Colorado Rockies spring notebook: Márquez batting, McMahon fielding

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Just how much does Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Márquez (and former Silver Slugger) still like to swing the bat? We got a glimpse of that on Sunday.

Some news and notes surrounding German Márquez and Ryan McMahon from Colorado Rockies spring training

After the Colorado Rockies pitchers were finished with their workouts for the day, Márquez wandered over to the field where the position players were taking batting practice. He was walking to the outfield when he stopped and turned around in time to scoop up a grounder to shortstop.

After shagging some flies and hanging in the outfield, Márquez came back in with the position players and joked with manager Bud Black about taking some swings, maybe now and maybe in the regular season.

“I’ll be ready,” Márquez laughed.

Márquez, however, knows that the chances for him to swing the bat in a regular-season game may be minimal now that the designated hitter has come to the National League. The 27-year-old right-hander says, despite his career .241 batting average, he’s OK with letting others do the hitting.

“I will miss it, but it is what it is,” Márquez said. “I’m just going to focus on my pitching.”

While Márquez may be focusing on his pitching, Gold Glove finalist Ryan McMahon was focusing on third base during infield drills on Sunday. Brendan Rodgers and Garrett Hampson were at second base, leaving McMahon the ability to concentrate on third base, splitting time with Colton Welker.

Last season, McMahon saw action in 52 games at second base while logging 113 games at third base. While McMahon may still see time at both positions in 2022, it seems that, with the emergence of Rodgers last season, McMahon will be able to focus on third base as he was during Sunday’s drills.

“Being able to do everything in one spot makes it a whole lot easier,” McMahon smiled.