Rodgers sets lofty goal on the bases

Rockies right-hander Senzatela slowed by hamstring injury

The Rockies have a number of fleet-footed ballplayers, including shor tstop Trevor Story and outfielders Garrett Hampson, Raimel Tapia and Sam Hilliard. The Rockies hope that speed will boost what’s been an anemic of fense.

Infielder Brendan Rodgers isn’t quite as fast, but he made a bold prediction Thursday.

“My goal is 20 bags. You heard it here first,” Rodgers said after starting at third base for the first time this spring and going 2-for-3, including a home run off Seattle reliever Anthony Misiewicz in the sixth inning.

“I’m an above-average runner,” Rodgers said. “… I definitely need to continue to pick Stor y’s and Hampson’s and other baserunners’ brains about what they look for. I definitely want to challenge myself on the basepaths this year and get some bags, because I know how much that helps the team.”

Twenty stolen bases is a lofty goal for Rodgers. In 32 big-league games (102 plate appearances), Rodgers has yet to record a stolen base. Rodgers did seal 12 bases in 95 games for Double-A Hartford in 2018.

Contingency plan. Manager Bud Black is hopeful that right-hander Antonio Senzatela can stay on track to make his first turn in the rotation when the regular season opens April 1. Still, Senzatela’s “minor hamstring strain” could prevent that, so Black said the Rockies must have another starter ready to step in.

“He’s doing better,”

Black said of Senzatela. “The trainers are encouraged but still, as you guys know, a hamstring is still tricky, so we’re going to be cautious here in the early stages of this to make sure that he keeps progressing and the injur y heals. But he’s doing better, he feels better, he feels encouraged.”