Colorado Rockies: Would Nolan Arenado’s #28 be worthy of the retirement honor?

17. 33. 42…28? In the Colorado Rockies’ relatively brief history, there have only been three numbers permanently retired by the franchise: Todd Helton’s #17, the Rockies’ lone Hall of Fame representative Larry Walker’s #33, and the league-wide retirement of Jackie Robinson’s #42.

It is a rare honor that only the greatest players of a franchise can receive. So here is the question. When Nolan Arenado’s career is finished, is #28 worthy of being hung up on the right field façade in Coors Field?

Nolan Arenado is arguably the greatest player to ever wear a Rockies uniform.  He is in the top 10 in virtually every career franchise offensive category and is on a Hall of Fame trajectory having won 9-straight Gold Gloves to begin his career and is one of the most feared offensive threats at third base in MLB.

But there is a case for Nolan Arenado not having his number retired by the Colorado Rockies

The downside to Nolan Arenado’s case is that he only played eight seasons with the Colorado Rockies before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in February of 2021. That is obviously less than Todd Helton, who played all of his 17 seasons with the Rockies and less than Larry Walker’s 10. It is also less than other notable Rockies such as Troy Tulowitzki (who played 10 seasons in Denver), Carlos González (10), and current outfielder Charlie Blackmon (11 seasons and counting).

The answer may come down to a decision made by Arenado himself.  If/when he is selected into the Hall of Fame, what team will he choose to represent?

There is some bad blood between him and the Rockies organization with the way he believes he was treated in his last few years with the Rockies could that sway him to not want to have a Rockies’ cap on his plaque in Cooperstown.

If he does choose to represent the Colorado Rockies, the Rockies will likely have no other choice but to retire his number, much like Walker, as it took the organization over 15 years after he was done playing and a HOF selection before deciding it was time to hang up #33.

So what do you think? Here’s your chance to vote on Twitter.