When Charlie Blackmon retired at the end of last season, the Colorado Rockies and their fans knew he would leave a vacancy that couldn’t be replaced.
Whether it was his work ethic, quiet leadership, goofy sense of humor, or his ability to make fans sing “toooooniiiight” on his walk-up song louder than they sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” Chuck Nazty was just special.
A talented hitter, a huge part of the four-time All-Star slugger’s success came from his ability to hit triples. After 14 seasons in Colorado, Blackmon retired as the team’s all-time leader in triples with 68, which is 15 more than runner-up Dexter Fowler. Even in his final season, Blackmon smacked five triples in 124 games.
Considering Blackmon’s absence from the lineup, it seemed likely that the Rockies’ triple-hitting numbers would significantly drop. That’s why it’s all the more surprising that the only positive stat the Rockies lead MLB in is hitting triples.
Colorado is No. 1 with 16 triples largely due to Mickey Moniak and Jordan Beck, who have posted four apiece. Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar have each hit two and Sean Bouchard, Michael Toglia, Brenton Doyle and Ryan McMahon all have one apiece. Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and Boston’s Jarren Duran each have six triples to lead MLB, but Beck and Moniak are in a five-way tie for third. To have two Rockies so high on the leader board is impressive, but to have so many players with the combo of speed and power, especially Tovar and Doyle, is outstanding.
In 32 complete seasons, the Rockies have led the big leagues in triples eight times. Even in the final years of his career, Blackmon’s ability to reach third after one swing helped the Rockies be an above-average triple-hitting team. In 2024, the Rockies finished No. 12 in triples with 25, dropping down from their fourth-place spot in 2023 at 31, which was down two spots from No. 2 at 34 in 2022. They also finished No. 4 in 2021 at 34.
When Chuck Nazty was closer to his prime, the Rockies finished as MLB’s top triple-hitting team in 2019 (tied with Detroit at 41) and 2015 (tied with Detroit at 49). The six other times the Rockies have led the Majors in triples were in 2010 (54), 2001 (61), 2000 (53), 1995 (43), 1994 (tied with the White Sox at 39) and 1993 (59).
This season, triples have been a frequent highlight in an otherwise lowlight season. Nine of the triples have driven in at least one run and six times the triple hitter has come around to score. Beck’s triple with the bases loaded as part of a triple-triple night when Bouchard and Moniak hit one as well on April 19 at home against Washington leads the way as the three-bagger with the most run production this season.
On Wednesday, Goodman’s triple — a run-scoring shot to center field in Miami — helped the Rockies take a 1-0 lead on their way to a 3-2 win over the Marlins.
Blackmon’s 68 career triples seem untouchable now. Only four current Rockies are in the top 50 career triple list for the organization. McMahon is tied for 33rd with 11, Doyle and Tovar are right behind him at 10 each, tied for 34th and Sam Hilliard has eight to tie him at No. 43. Goodman has five triples in 153 games over three seasons and Beck didn’t hit any last year, so he sits at four in 107 games over two seasons.
For a single season, Fowler is tops in Rockies history with 15 in 2011. Fowler is also tied with Blackmon for No. 2 with 14, which they did in 2010 and 2017, respectively. If Moniak and Beck keep it up, they could at least crack the top-50 list, where 16 Rockies are tied for No. 37 at six triples in a season.
The Rockies are mostly making news on the worst-of lists this season, but they could be quietly making waves in the triples department, which could eventually start helping them win more games.
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On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 6, El Paso Chihuahuas 4
Austin Nola hit an RBI double in the eighth inning in what ended up being the winning run and Warming Bernabel singled in the ninth to score Sean Bouchard for insurance in Albuquerque’s victory on Thursday. Nola finished with three RBI, Adael Amador and Owen Miller each hit a solo homer in two-hit nights, Bouchard went 1-for-2 with three walks, Bernabel finished with two hits, as did Yanquiel Fernández Michael Toglia went 1-for-5 with a double and three strikeouts. Anthony Molina (2-5) picked up the win after giving up three runs on seven hits with three walks and one strikeout in five innings.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 8, Portland Sea Dogs 6 (11)
Cole Carrigg hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning to deliver a big win for the Yard Goats on Thursday.
Carrigg went 4-for-6 on the night and scored three runs. Jose Torres added three hits and scored a run, Zach Kokoska had a two-hit night, including an RBI double and Juan Guerrero hit two sac flies to lead Hartford’s offense.
High-A: Hilsboro Hops 8, Spokane Indians 4
The Indians jumped out to a 4-0 win after four innings, but couldn’t recover from a five-run Hilsboro sixth inning. Michael Prosecky put up a great start, putting up five scoreless innings with three strikeouts despite surrendering four hits and five walks. The bullpen didn’t fare as well. Jared Thomas and Jesus Bugarin each recorded two hits and drove in a run and Caleb Hobson hit a two-run single and scored a run.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 6, Stockton Ports 3 (10)
Derek Bernard’s RBI single in the top of the 10th would have been enough, but Francisco Garcia followed with a two-run double to make Fresno’s victory even more decisive. Garcia hit a solo homer earlier in the game, as did Kevin Hildago, to help the Grizzlies take an early 3-0 lead through the top of the fifth before Stockon tied it up in the bottom of the frame.
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What would the Rockies’ record be if they played by “Banana Ball” scoring rules? | Purple Row
With the Savannah Bananas barnstorming the country with their wacky brand of baseball, Purple Row’s own Samantha Bradford analyzed all 62 of the Rockies games to see if the Rockies would be any better if they played with rules that include points going to the team that wins each inning. Check it out to see if it could mean more wins.
How Rockies are handling all-time worst start to MLB season | ESPN.com
Jesse Rogers checks in with many long-time Rockies on how they are trying to stay engaged and trying to complete despite the brutal start to the season. There are some interesting quotes from Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Ryan McMahon and even Bill Schmidt. There’s a good deal more optimism with Warren Schaeffer at the helm.
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Colorado Rain Updates
UCHealth Healthy Swings Cancelled
In an unusually soggy late spring, where it has rained five days in a row and 10 of the 13, Coors Field was hit by another dousing of rain on Thursday night, which cancelled the seventh annual Healthy Swings charity event hosted by UCHealth. The event was set to feature several Denver Broncos competing in a home run/long ball derby of sorts to raise money for Freedom Service Dogs, which provides service dogs to individuals with limited mobility, young people with autism, veterans and first responders with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries.
For the first time in the history of the event, 1,000 lucky fans were invited to attend, but it wasn’t meant to be. Just minutes before the event was set to get started, the tarp was pulled out over the infield instead. In the previous six years, the event has raised over $650,000 for various charities. This year, rain couldn’t dampen the donating spirit as UCHealth still managed to gift an amazing sum.
Healthy Swings Charity Home Run Derby may have been rained out, but the impact was anything but washed away. We donated $175,000 to @FreedomSvcDogs, helping connect service animals with those who need them most. pic.twitter.com/15ackisWbq
— uchealth (@uchealth) June 6, 2025
If you feel inclined to make it even more, you can donate on the Freedom Service Dogs website.
Forecast Could Bring More Rain Friday
While the weekend looks hotter and drier, according to the 9News Weather Impact Team, “There could even be a few storms in the Denver area or in the higher terrain to the west before noon but the stronger storms will likely happen between 1pm and 8pm.” They give Denver a 50% chance of rain and 5% chance of hail sometime during the day. With the Rockies hosting the Mets at 6:40 p.m., it could be another interesting weather-watch day.
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