Colorado Rockies: Will Brendan Rodgers get more playing time in 2021?

Former Colorado Rockies top prospect Brendan Rodgers has more than proven himself in the minor leagues but will he get a shot to play more in the majors?

The Colorado Rockies have themselves a bit of a dilemma heading into the 2021 season in regards to their infield. Daniel Murphy is now a free agent, Ryan McMahon didn’t exactly have a banner 2020 season (or a banner 2019 season either, for that matter), and, of course, Nolan Arenado and/or Trevor Story could be traded this offseason.

But one of the other dilemmas that they must alleviate before starting the season is what they plan on doing with former top prospect Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers, 24, was ranked as high as the 10th best prospect in the entire sport (entering 2019 by MLB.com), and for good reason. At the Triple-A level, he has only been in 56 games but he has shown that he is ready to be at the big league level, hitting .311/.366/.514 with 9 home runs and 26 RBI.

However, due to being blocked by other players as well as injuries, Rodgers has struggled at the major league level. In 32 MLB games (97 at-bats), he has hit .196/.235/.227. With injuries and no minor league season in 2020, he played in just seven games in 2020 due to a shoulder injury and a hamstring injury.

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But Rodgers will likely receive more playing time at the major league level in 2021. Rockies manager Bud Black said as much when he spoke with MLB Network Radio earlier this week.

“What does Brendan have to prove in the minors? Not a lot. He’s hit in the minors. Now he just has to hit in the big leagues, and we’ve got to give him that opportunity.”

You can listen to a larger portion of Black talking about Rodgers here.

If Nolan Arenado or if Trevor Story, in particular, is traded, the Rockies will likely use Rodgers in an everyday role. Perhaps, even if they aren’t traded, they could move Ryan McMahon to first to replace Daniel Murphy and play Rodgers at second base every day. McMahon could even see his playing time reduced if he doesn’t start to turn the corner and Josh Fuentes keeps up his numbers as the Rockies could relegate McMahon to the bench or have McMahon and Fuentes platoon at first base.

Perhaps, Rodgers will struggle as well and will need more time to develop in the minor leagues but considering the talent that the Rockies thought they were getting when they drafted him third overall in 2015 and his prospect ratings, the Rockies need to see what they have in Rodgers, one way or another.