Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies come full circle at Chase Field

PHOENIX — It was exactly 2,006 days since the time that Trevor Story debuted for the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix and the time that Story stepped onto the same field and prepared for what could be his last series as a member of the Rockies.

Much has happened for both Story and the Colorado Rockies during that time. The 28-year-old shortstop has evolved from a rookie who burst onto the scene with a historic home run barrage starting in his first-ever game played at Chase Field to one of Major League Baseball’s premier shortstops. On Saturday night, Story went 0-for-4 at the plate, including grounding into a double play in what would be his final at-bat of the night … and potentially final at-bat in a Rockies uniform.

With Sunday’s game concluding at Chase Field, Story’s Rockies contract has officially expired. No one, including Story, knows where he will ink his next deal.

While the ending is still unclear, the beginning of this journey for Story started in the same building where he was now contemplating his future. The irony was not lost on the 28-year-old who made his debut as a wide-eyed, 23-year-old rookie.

“Before we came here, I realized that (season ending in Arizona) was going to be the case,” Story said. “It’s kind of cool that this is where it all started and where I made my debut and we get to finish it up here. It brings back those memories for sure and I think it’s kind of a cool way to end the season.”

While Story meant “finish it up” in terms of the season, many are thinking this trip to Phoenix was also the conclusion of Story’s journey with the franchise. In six seasons with the Rockies, Story totaled 158 homers, 450 RBI, and exactly 100 stolen bases.

That number 100 was important for Story, he admitted. It’s one of the reasons why a stolen base late in Friday night’s win was meaningful. A student of baseball and the history behind it, Story knew that that stolen base would put him in the 20/20 club (20 homers and 20 stolen bases) for the third time and earn a spot as the seventh MLB player in history to log 150 home runs and 100 stolen bases in his first six seasons.

“That was huge, honestly,” Story said. “I pride myself on doing those things. I’m trying to be a complete player and it meant a lot.

“20/20 means a lot to me. It might not to a lot of people, but it does to me.”

Unlike the excitement that surrounded his debut on Opening Day 2016, there was less than a full house this past weekend in Phoenix. Undefeated seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos have taken the majority of attention away from the Diamondbacks and Rockies, a pair of teams who have secured the bottom two spots of the National League West with losing campaigns.

Still, there was a buzz of disbelief in the building from the crowd of just over 15,000 on Friday night when Story completed Colorado’s comeback from a 7-0 deficit with an RBI single in the top of the ninth to give the visitors an 8-7 edge on their way to a 9-7 win.

Was that the last highlight for Story with the franchise? Story confirmed that there has been no discussion with the Rockies about a new contract. It’s expected the Rockies will give him a qualifying offer and Story will explore other options for the next chapter of his career.

“We’re going to set some time out to have the conversations with the Rockies and obviously some other teams as well,” Story said. “Hearing the plan and what they project going forward is important.”

Can the Rockies tell Story anything different than what he already knows?

“Maybe,” Story said with a smile. “I guess we’ll see.”