Arenado learns to field off-field fame with grace
ESCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.» verybody wants something from Nolan Arenado, and the demand is growing.
If a national writer steps into the Rockies’ clubhouse at Salt River Fields, the first thing they do is head to Arenado’s corner locker, craving 10 minutes with the star third baseman. If the MLB Network or ESPN makes a rare visit to the Rockies, the TV crew demands Arenado or center fielder Charlie Blackmon.
If Arenado goes out to eat, fans want a photo or an autograph.
I frequently track him down, asking for a quote, an insight or a precious 10 minutes for a podcast. I once told him, “Hey, Nolan, you know that it’s OK to say no.” Of course, I was exempting myself from that sage advice.
Truth be told, Arenado just wants to play baseball, hang out with his family and friends, or chill out at the beach. The money, perks and ego boosts that come with fame? That’s all secondary to the 26-year-old, who, if he stays in Colorado long term, will have a chance to be the best player in Rockies history.
For Arenado, fame is simply part of the job. Dealing with the media or catering to fans’ desires is not as much fun as practicing diving plays down the line or attempting to perfect his swing, but Arenado does it. Usually with a smile.
“It’s how I was raised,” he said. “I have respect for people. … I’ve learned to give people time and learned to be humble and have patience. Patience is something that’s hard in my (big, extended) family, but you’ve got to learn to have patience in the real world.”
I sense, however, that the never-ending demands on Arenado’s time are starting to wear on him. How is he dealing with it?
“Yeah, it is getting more and more and more, but that comes with the territory of winning and doing well,” he said. “So if this is going to be how it is because of the way I’m performing or we’re winning ballgames, I’ll take it on the best way I can. I have no problems with it.”
But there are some lines Arenado must draw around himself.
“It’s cool to see people appreciate my game,” he said. “When I’m out at dinner and someone says, ‘Hey, man, I love to watch you play,’ that doesn’t bother me. It does bother me when they ask for a picture when I have a piece of steak in my mouth.
“But when I’m hanging out somewhere, having a glass of wine and they come up to me and say, ‘Hey, man, I love watching you play,’ that means a lot to me. I’m a very open book; I’ll talk to anyone. There are some boundaries, like when I’m with my family. But it’s all OK. It comes with the territory.”
Arenado is approaching one of the biggest decisions of his life. He will be a free agent after the 2019 season and could bank a contract in excess of $200 million, perhaps a lot more, depending on the length of the deal.
His No. 1 objective is not money or fame or being the so-called “face of the franchise.” It’s winning.
“I don’t mean to be arrogant here, but money is not an issue anymore. I’m already wealthy,” he told me this past winter. “It’s about winning and it’s about the ability to play baseball in October.”
That could mean Los Angeles or New York — and more fame. He will grin and bear it. That’s how he was raised.