Helton rejoins team as special assistant to GM
Rockies franchise icon Todd Helton is officially back in the saddle.
The Rockies announced Saturday that Helton, who spent all 17 seasons of his big- league career in Colorado, will work as a special assistant to general manager Bill Schmidt. Helton will work in many areas of baseball operations, but Schmidt said that Helton will focus on working with minor- league players.
“I’m excited to have Todd be a part of this,” Schmidt said. “With his passion, his knowledge, and where he is in his life, he has a lot to add.
“It will mostly be about coaching and helping us out in the minor leagues. But scouting could happen, and he will help us out in all areas.”
Helton, along with star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, spent a week during spring training working with Rockies prospects. Helton enjoyed his time and said there was a strong possibility that he would rejoin the club in an official capacity.
“I’m willing to help out the Rockies
in the minor leagues,” the fivetime all- star first baseman said in early March. “I basically want to stay in the minor leagues, helping the young guys. I’m more than open to traveling to different parks and watching the guys play.”
Helton was the eighth overall pick in the 1995 draft out of the University of Tennessee. He remains Colorado’s franchise leader in games played ( 2,247), runs ( 1,401), hits ( 2,519), doubles ( 592), home runs ( 369), RBIS ( 1,406) and walks ( 1,335).
He was a four- time Silver Slugger Award winner ( 2000- 03) and a three- time Gold Glove winner ( 2001- 02, 2004). Helton retired after the 2013 season and his No. 17 was retired by the Rockies on Aug. 17, 2014, the first uniform number in franchise history to be retired.
Helton, who worked extensively with first- base prospect Michael Toglia during spring training, and even took Toglia out for dinner, said that having veterans around can have a big impact on younger players.
“My first spring training, Ken Griffey Sr. was the major league hitting coach ( in 1996),” Helton said in March. “That was a big deal, for me, just to be around him and listen to him. He cut up a lot and was a lot of fun to be around.”
Manager Bud Black called Helton’s return “awesome.”
“I think Todd is in a good place to get back and get involved,” Black said. “And I think it will be good for Todd to be re- connected with our organization.”
Schmidt and Helton had discussed Helton’s return to the club over the winter and the week spent at the Rockies’ Salt River Fields complex solidified the plan.
“What he did for us during his week in spring training really set the tone for the whole ( minor league) camp,” Schmidt said. “We had talked about him joining us and it confirmed to me that he was ready to jump in. He’s done it before and he’s in a good place with his life.”
Helton finished his career with a .316 average and his 592 doubles rank 20th in major league history. Schmidt believes Helton will be able to pass on his knowledge about hitting, as well as what it takes to be a big- league player.
“He talked to all of our minor league hitters and he gave them a heart- to- heart about what goes on and what it takes to be successful up here,” Schmidt said. “Todd played at a very high level. Hopefully, someday he’s going to be a Hall of Famer, in the very near future.”
Helton received 52.0% of the vote in his fourth year on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2022, 23.0% shy of the 75% of votes required for induction.