Blackmon still has some gas in the tank

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

At a time when folks could have legitimately wondered if the Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon, at 37 and at the end of his contract, was ready to wind down, he revved up.

In his return on Aug. 14 from a 52-game absence because of a right hand injury, Blackmon beat out an infield single to ignite a comeback in a 6-4 victory over the D-backs. Blackmon’s Statcast-measured 28.4 feet-per-second sprint speed was well above the MLB average of 27 feet per second.

The next game, Blackmon legged out a triple.

He hasn’t slowed down since.

In 25 games since his return, Blackmon has posted a .300/.413/.444 slash line with two home runs, three doubles, two triples and 10 RBIs. He has appeared 10 times in right field. In three-plus months before the injury, Blackmon made just 12 appearances in right.

“Just comparing this point in the season to last year, I’ve played way less games than last year,” Blackmon said. “So I’m just a little bit fresher for September.

“I really like playing defense a lot, especially if I can add some value. I’ve been feeling refreshed. I’ve been able to cover some ground. And it’s nice to be back in the normal flow of the game.”

Bud Black said when he arrived as manager, Blackmon -- along with players such as Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story -- displayed “great work capacity ... didn’t tire. Some guys get tired after five ground balls or 20 swings in the cage.”

Blackmon hasn’t slowed his preparation, even if fielding isn’t in his job description on a given day.

“He’ll be DH-ing, and he’ll go out and shag balls in the outfield -- for other guys who DH, they’ll take the day,” Black said.

Has there been physical decline since Blackmon’s four All-Star Game trips? Of course. He hit between 29 and 37 homers from 2016-19. But he remains above average in speed -- a tool that can make up for the lesser power and keep him effective in the field. In sprint speed, Blackmon’s 27.5 feet-per-second average remains above average -- and not far from his career-best 28.2 feet per second average in 2017.

It’s swift movement for an older player under any circumstance, but Blackmon’s 2022 season ended in late September with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

“Playing the game -- running, rotating and that kind of stuff trains you to be explosive,” he said. “And I try to take care of my body. I still feel very strong. I don’t have the prettiest running form. A lot of what makes me go fast is my strength.”

Blackmon’s natural speed turned heads when he went from a sore-armed lefty pitcher to an outfielder in college. Upholding it, however, takes dedicated and meticulous off-field work. He has reduced heavy and isolated lifts such as the bench press and traditional squat, and increased exercises that incorporate more muscle groups.

“The whole program with the core and with the functional rotational movements, that’s when you see benefits,” Blackmon said. “You do something that’s a multijoint movement like running -- it’s not just a bench press. It’s the legs and the arms and core, putting it all together.

“I change things around, like more single-leg strengthening. Instead of squatting close to 400 pounds, I do 150-pound single-leg squats. When you do one leg, you incorporate more core. You’re balancing on one leg, you’re having to stabilize. That makes it more functional.”

Blackmon added that push-and-pull exercises using one arm (pumping the arms aids running) use the same principle -- they incorporate core strength and balance -- and are safe for his shoulder and elbow joints.

The Rockies are full-speed into a youth movement, but since his return, their lineup has functioned well with Blackmon, playing under the $15 million club option for ‘23, as the leadoff man. Kris Bryant’s move from right field to first base opens Blackmon’s old job. Prospects are on the way, but Blackmon’s play this year -- and his dedication to preparation -- present a case for him to be re-signed.

“I’ve thought about next year a little bit, but we have a lot of baseball to go this year, but I do feel good,” said Blackmon, who has played all 13 of his seasons with the Rockies. “I like playing baseball.

“I don’t feel like I’m winding down. We’ve got some guys with really good tools. It’s exciting to see some young guys, new guys do things really well. It’s cool to be a part of that. Definitely, Plan A would be everything works out here and we win a World Series.”