Colorado Rockies finally get to see Russell Wilson hitting at Coors Field
Sure, it was only batting practice, but current Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson dressed in a Colorado Rockies uniform and hitting home runs at Coors Field was a sight that had plenty asking “what if…” on Thursday morning.
Russell Wilson, dressed in a complete Colorado Rockies uniform, hit a few home runs as part of his batting showdown with Peyton Manning at Coors Field
Denver Broncos quarterback royalty took center stage inside the batting cage at Coors Field on Thursday morning as part of production for a future episode of Peyton’s Places on ESPN+. Manning and Wilson, both dressed in Colorado Rockies uniforms with Manning wearing number 18 and Wilson wearing number 3, took turns in the batting cage as part of the filming.
Wilson, who was drafted by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB draft and played two seasons in the Colorado minor league system, showed off his hitting skills against Manning, including depositing an opposite field home run into the seats at Coors along with other homers he powered into the left-center seats.
Colorado manager Bud Black was impressed with what he saw from Wilson in his short time in the cage.
“It’s a real swing from a real athlete,” Black said. “He was a two-way athlete and potentially a Major League player. Some scouts and some people in the game felt that he would have had a Major League career, but what to extent or how that unfolded, I don’t know.”
Wilson even flashed a glimpse into what it might have looked like with him manning (pun intended) second base for the Rockies.
Of course, Wilson will make his mark on Denver sports not for the Rockies but rather the Broncos as he takes his place under center for the franchise for the first time this season. His first test comes against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, on Monday Night Football on September 12.