Colorado Rockies: Why this veteran-laden outfield could happen in 2021

With Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black meeting with the media for the first time since the 2020 season ended, we now have a little better understanding of what could happen in the outfield in 2021.

And the key word in that sentence is “could,” because the Colorado Rockies are still waiting to officially see if two of the three pieces of a potentially veteran-laden outfield will actually suit up in purple in 2021.

First, after sitting out the 2020 season, Black indicated that he expects Ian Desmond to return to the team in 2021.

“My thought is that Desi is coming back,” Black told the media, including Rox Pile on Wednesday.

In a follow-up question by our own Noah Yingling, Black also said that the Rockies would have to see where the 35-year-old Desmond was in his condition after taking a year off before determining his exact role, whether that would be off the bench or as an everyday player. Black also mentioned Desmond’s ability to hit left-handed pitching, That’s a topic that Yingling dove into in this article.

This was part of what Yingling uncovered on Desmond against southpaws:

"But if you look at his splits in the last two seasons, one thing is evident: (Desmond) struggles against right-handed pitching and actually hits left-handed pitching well.Here’s a look at his splits:2018 vs. RHP: .216/.297/.3822018 vs. LHP: .280/.332/.5092019 vs. RHP: .226/.282/.3752019 vs. LHP: .297/.350/.626Particularly in the power department, Desmond is much better against lefties. 14 of his 20 home runs in 2019 were against lefties (or 70 percent) when he only faced lefties in a total of 41 percent of his 2019 ABs. For comparison, Nolan Arenado’s overall OPS in 2019 was .962. Desmond’s against lefties was .976."

In the final year of his much-maligned five-year, $70 million deal, Desmond saw action in 74 games in center field in 2019 while playing 44 games in left field. Could a platoon with Raimel Tapia in left field be what Rockies fans can expect in 2021?

By the way, Desmond, when he posted that he would sit out the 2020 season, discussed how he would be impacting the youth baseball league in Sarasota, Fla., as a way of giving back. He did just that, as you can see in the video below.

Ian Desmond is making a difference in his Sarasota community and beyond. 6 months of hard work and due diligence to create an engaging, sustainable, and repeatable program for underserved kids. Video by @brianducoffe https://t.co/WREb3QF2AL
— Allan (parody account) $8 (@ambp77) December 17, 2020

A Desmond-in-left scenario comes into greater primary focus if and when the Rockies bring Kevin Pillar back for his second appearance in Denver. Black confirmed on Wednesday that the Rockies are indeed in discussions with Pillar (who will turn 32 on January 4) about coming back to Colorado, where he was acquired in a trade from the Boston Red Sox on August 31.

Pillar anchored center field after coming to Colorado, playing there in 21 September games. In 97 plate appearances, Pillar posted a .308/.351/.451 slash line. We discussed more about Pillar’s year as well as why the Rockies should and shouldn’t resign him in this article.

The eight-year veteran’s cementation in center field follows a career-long trend as Pillar has played 759 of his 886 center games in the outfield in center.

Colorado Rockies: This veteran-laden outfield could happen in 2021

By Kevin Henry | Dec 17, 2020

With Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black meeting with the media for the first time since the 2020 season ended, we now have a little better understanding of what could happen in the outfield in 2021.