This Rockies prospect's got rhythm

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.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies manager Bud Black strode behind the batting cage and cackled about how none of the 20- and 30-something-year-olds at the practice fields knew much about the 1960s classic rock and '70s arena rock he was playing over the speakers.

But then came outfielder Zac Veen, MLB Pipeline’s No. 27 overall prospect, who is all of 21 years old and a product of the hip hop generation. He’d raise his bat into position and step a waltz -- a one-two into his stance, then a swing and a stride on three -- right in time with whatever rhythm was playing. The Carpenters, the Monkees -- it didn’t matter.

Baseball has a beat, and Veen can dance to it, even once the game starts. Even with a pitcher standing 60 feet, 6 inches away, even with a pitch timer, Veen is moving to music only he hears whenever he settles himself in for an at-bat and assesses the situation.

“You are 100 percent, absolutely right,” Veen said, appreciating that his musical way of approaching the game had been noticed. “Certain songs play throughout the game. They keep me loose and in rhythm.

“I definitely say, 'When in doubt, dance it out.'”

During Saturday’s 12-5 victory over the D-backs in the Rockies' spring opener, Veen entered the batter’s box and reset himself after swings with tiny, rhythmic head nods and a little glide to his stride. His double in his first at-bat and his homer into the right-field corner were music to the Rockies’ ears.

Now, the chart-toppers don’t guarantee actual hits. Veen moved to the same rhythms when he chased two pitches and struck out in his final at-bat.

The soundtrack of Veen's first Cactus League game? Well, it was tough for him to sum it up a few minutes later. There was so much going on.

“Oh, man, I’m playing a lot of songs -- a few Future albums, some Eminem and a little bit of everything,” Veen said. “It just goes with whatever I’m thinking about.”

This isn’t strange. Music cuts the monotony of training and plays through batting practice and fielding drills. And games are full of music, even with walk-up songs now limited to 10 seconds. Years ago, many young Rockies were impressed when Hall of Fame-bound Larry Walker said during a hitters meeting that when he felt an at-bat speeding up on him, he sang a song to himself as a way of collecting his thoughts.

“When I’m at my best, what I do is play a little song in my head and keep the rhythm,” Veen said. “It’s kind of a focus for me right now.”