First pitch: 3 things I heard around MLB clubhouses last week
By Kevin Henry
MLB rumors: A tip of the cap from one Colorado Rockies Gold Glove winner to the others
Last season, Brendan Rodgers continued the Gold Glove legacy in Colorado that was built by Arenado and DJ LeMahieu, a pair of former Rockies who have now taken their talents to other teams.
Rodgers earned his first-ever Gold Glove at second base in 2022, giving the Rockies three Gold Gloves at the position in the past six seasons (with LeMahieu winning in 2017 and 2018). Taken with the third overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft, Rodgers said that observing LeMahieu and Arenado work showed him as a young player what needed to be done to reach that defensive level as well.
“Just watching early in my career in big league camp Nolan and (Trevor) Story and DJ, three Gold Glove-caliber players, and how they went about their business,” Rodgers said before being presented with his Gold Glove in a ceremony in front of the Rockies fans. “They did the early work. They were there, showing that they took pride in their defense. Defense wins championships, and I could tell their pride by the way that they went after their business. That’s been something that I have tried to replicate after watching them and it finally paid off.”
Rodgers suffered a shoulder injury during spring training and is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning it will likely be 2024 before he has a chance to return to the team and compete for his second Gold Glove.