Colorado Rockies: Finding under-the-radar free agent hitters

Jake Marisnick, OF, 32 years old on Opening Day

You could argue that since Juan Pierre in the early 2000s, the Rockies haven’t had an elite defender in center field. Given their home ballpark, the Rockies should be clamoring for a rangy outfielder.

That’s just what Jake Marisnick is. Since 2017, Marisnick is 24th among all outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), despite having less than half the innings of most players above him.

In that same span, OAA ranked Marisnick 13th among all outfielders. With more playing time, he could easily be near or at the top of both stats.

In 2021, Marisnick showed he still has roadrunner wheels, placing in the 90th percentile for sprint speed.

While he’s been inconsistent at the plate his entire career, Marisnick has some pop. Between 2017 and 2019, he recorded double-digit home runs every year despite accumulating only about half a season’s worth of plate appearances.

Jake Marisnick is likely a well-below-average hitter, but perhaps on par or better than the Colorado Rockies’ depth

The key is his difference-making defensive ability and speed. Those skills could earn Marisnick an MLB deal.

Even then, he should be on the Rockies’ radar. A heavily incentivized deal that pays the former Astro for games played could be an appealing option for both sides.