Colorado Rockies 2022 player projections: Brendan Rodgers

We continue our look at what projections are saying about the 2022 version of the Colorado Rockies by taking a dive into what the season may hold for Brendan Rodgers.

Perhaps no member of the Colorado Rockies is waiting for the end of the lockout more than Brendan Rodgers

After finally getting extended playing time in 2021 after years of talk about his potential as a prospect, Rodgers flexed what he could do as a member of the Colorado Rockies lineup, slashing .284/.328/.470 with 15 home runs and 51 RBI in 415 plate appearances. Interestingly, 12 of those 15 home runs came away from Denver, as did better overall numbers from him in the slash line, shushing anyone who might say his statistics are driven by playing at Coors Field.

So how do the ZiPS projections treat Rodgers this season? The power numbers look very similar to 2021, with Rodgers projected to hit one more home run (16) and drive in the same number of runs (51).

The overall slash numbers for Rodgers are projected to be .281/.326/.471 in 429 plate appearances, again eerily similar to his 2021 campaign.

As the roster is currently constructed, the Rockies will likely for looking for (and hoping for) more production out of Rodgers in 2022.

But that’s where the mystery of the lockout grows a bit. After all, we don’t know exactly what moves general manager Bill Schmidt will make in an effort to boost the lineup and take some of the offensive load off Rodgers, Ryan McMahon, C.J. Cron, Charlie Blackmon, and the other returning starters.

Along with not knowing who will be brought in to hopefully bring some power to the lineup, Rodgers and the rest of us don’t know where those newcomers will play on the diamond. Rodgers settled in at second base last season (logging 660.2 innings there) but also considerable spent time at shortstop (163.2 innings), and there are plenty of whispers about potentially sliding over to the position (depending on what Colorado does once the current MLB lockout lifts and free agent signings and trades can once again begin).

However, manager Bud Black and others in the organization have said they hope to keep Rodgers at second base and allow him to continue to grow in that position. As an aside, ZiPS projects the majority of Rodgers’ production to come at second base.

An improvement for Rodgers in 2022 could come in the on-base department. He did cut down his strikeout rate to 20.2 percent last season and raised his walk percentage to 4.6 percent (just above his career average of 4.5). Raising that number even more could be a focus for him in 2022.