Colorado Rockies: Checking in on Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story

The two faces of the Colorado Rockies in recent years were Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story. However, the Rockies traded Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals and they let Story go via free agency to the Boston Red Sox.

Meanwhile, the Rockies are on pace to regress in 2022 with their 33-42 record, which is a 71-91 pace after they went 74-87 in 2021.

Let’s check in on what Arenado and Story are doing.

Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado is showing everyone that he can hit outside of Coors Field

Nolan Arenado had a very good season for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021 but it wasn’t quite the level that Colorado Rockies fans saw (128 OPS+ for him from 2014 through 2019 and a 119 OPS+ in 2021 with St. Louis).

In 2022, though, he is, arguably, on pace to have his best season ever. Entering Tuesday, he was hitting .278/.343/.502 with an OPS+ of 141, which would be the highest in his career. He also had 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and 49 RBI in 72 games, which would put him on a 162-game pace for 43 doubles, 32 home runs, and 110 RBI.

Defensively, he had 10 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), putting him on pace for 22 DRS. That would be tied for the second-most in his career. He also had 3.5 rWAR, which is fourth-best in the National League and putting him on pace for 7.6 rWAR.

Trevor Story is playing well for the Boston Red Sox

While not playing quite at the level of Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story is playing well for the Boston Red Sox.

Offensively, he has struggled a bit with average but he is still hitting for power. Entering Tuesday, he had played in 67 games with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, 51 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. His slash line was .224/.300/.409 with an OPS+ of 95.

Defensively, Story has been playing second base, instead of the customary shortstop that he played with the Rockies. It has paid off for him, though. He has 8 DRS, meaning that he’s on pace for 17 DRS. That would be the second-highest of his career.

Particularly in their lineup, the Rockies could use both of them this year considering their struggles but the Rockies will have to find power elsewhere, if they can find it at all.

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