Fuentes intent on taking 1B job
Infielder must compete with newcomers Cron, Bird
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Josh Fuentes has proven doubters wrong before. Now he has to prove himself again.
He says bring it on. “One-hundred percent,” Fuentes said here Wednesday from Salt River Fields.
During the Rockies’ dismal 2020 season, Fuentes provided a spark of energy, played solid first base and produced at the plate. He bumped veteran Daniel Murphy from the starting lineup toward the end of the season. In 30 games and 98 at-bats, Fuentes hit .306, with a .470 slugging percentage, while knocking in 17 runs. On defense, he was credited with nine runs saved, tied for ninthmost in the National League.
Fuentes, Nolan Arenado’s younger cousin, was finally out of the shadows.
And yet, shortly before the Rockies reported to spring training, the club signed C.J. Cron and Greg Bird, two veteran first basemen, to minor league deals, meaning there will be competition at first base. The moves caught Fuentes off guard.
“Especially since they were first-base only guys — two of them,” Fuentes said. “But I still think I have a good shot to start there. I guess signing these guys puts me down on the board, or whatever you want to call it. But I know my game, and I know that I can come in here and compete against both of them and still win that job.”
Manager Bud Black has suggested Fuentes could become a utility player, manning first, third (Fuentes’ position in the minors) and maybe even left field. Fuentes, naturally, said he’d do what’s best for the team but he still thinks he should star t at first.
“Ever y player likes to have a position,” he said. “I don’t think anyone comes up thinking they should be a versatility guy. Personally, I would love to be the first baseman. I feel like I excel there, I love it and I feel like I help ever yone else in the infield.
“But at the same time, you can’t be selfish. We have Cron and Bird, and if those guys produce and do well, then you have to find another spot for me. But at the end of the day, I’m going to find my way in there, whether it’s first, third or left. I’m going to be playing, for sure.”
Black has frequently praised Fuentes’ performance, particularly his glovework.
“He’s played great defense,” Black said. “He might be moved around a bit — because he can. But you talk to Bird, you talk to Cron, you talk to (former San Francisco Giants and Dodgers prospect) Connor Joe, they all know there is probably a position battle for first.”
The Rockies need the power potential of the right-handed-hitting Cron and the left-handed-hitting Bird.cronhasatrack record of swatting homers. In his seven-year career he has a .257/.312/.464 slash line with 118 home runs, including a career-best 30 with the Rays in 2018.
Fuentes doesn’t produce that kind of instant offense, but he believes he does things that help a team win. In addition to his .306 average last season, he hit seven doubles to go with two home runs. His on-base percentage, however, was just .320 because he walked just twice. His strikeout rate was 28.2%, a bit high, but down from his 35.7% in 2019.
“I feel like the thing that’s holding me back, I guess, because it always comes up, is the walks-tostrikeouts,” he said. “I really don’t worry about that. I have never been a walk guy, in my whole career. Obviously, you can work on it, I mean, I’m not tr ying to strike out ever y time.
“But to think that I’m not considered a starter, because I don’t walk as much, is kind of ridiculous. You’ve seen me down on the field, you’ve seen me play and that’s what matters.”