SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Garrett Hampson has been the bit-part actor who has stolen more than his share of scenes, with multiple highlight-reel plays in the infield and outfield. Now the Rockies will test him in a lead role.

Center field looks open for Hampson, 26, who has hit .245 over three seasons, mostly in part-time duty at four positions -- second base, center field, shortstop and left field. Hampson has elite speed. His career 30.0 feet per second on bursts is tied for 10th-fastest since Statcast began tracking in 2015. Now the Rockies want him to regularly impact games with that and his other tools.

“His tools play in the Major Leagues,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “You see some of the things that he's done. There’s a good baserunner with stolen-base potential. How about the catch in the [2020] opening series at Texas when he played left field, he robbed somebody of a homer. There have been some defensive plays up the middle as an infielder.

“For that two-week window last year he started playing, he got his batting average in over .300. He was getting on base. ... Those flashes tell you it’s in there. You get to know the guy and his heart, his desire, and it usually plays out. How’s it going to play out in 2020? That's why we play.”

Hampson, a third-round pick out of Long Beach State in 2016, is of the modern multi-position mold. His closest comparison might be the Nationals’ Trea Turner, a speedy middle infielder who can be an impact defender in center field. While center field calls Hampson’s name, he hasn’t shed his middle-infield identity -- and the Rockies expect him to keep his skills sharp around the diamond, just in case.

“I’m excited about the outfield,” said Hampson, whose chance in center crystalized when Kevin Pillar, who arrived in a Trade Deadline deal with the Red Sox last summer, signed with the Mets just before camp. “I think I could be a really good outfielder. If I’m playing there every day, I think I can be one of the best outfielders out there. I really do. But I think to myself a little bit that I’ll probably miss the infield if I’m just out there roaming the grass. But whatever it takes, I’m going to take pride in what I’m doing out there.”

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The bat needs to catch up with the multi-position glove, however.

Last season, original starting center fielder David Dahl (now with the Rangers) struggled in the leadoff spot while dealing with a right shoulder injury, and Hampson took off when placed at the top of the order in April. But Hampson fell into a strikeout-heavy month, and left fielder Raimel Tapia overcame his struggles and moved to the top of the lineup.

Hampson moved to lower in the order, where pitchers usually don’t give as much over the plate -- especially in the National League, where they can work around to face a pitcher. Batting in the 7 and 8 spots, Hampson struck out 31 times in 85 plate appearances.

Still, there is measurable growth. Hampson can steal some hits and cut strikeouts with the bunt. His seven bunt hits last season led the NL and trailed only the Orioles’ Cedric Mullins (nine). Hampson totaled 10 infield hits. And most of his 13 homers over the past two seasons came after he eliminated a leg kick and gained better timing.

In the case of Hampson and much of the 2021 lineup, the Rockies look at struggles in the past as lessons, not definitions.

“It’s nice to know people have confidence in you, and I have a lot of confidence in myself,” Hampson said. “I know where I can be and will be.”

He’s been counted out before
Josh Fuentes hit .306 and played standout defense to overtake Daniel Murphy at first base in 2020. This offseason, the Rockies signed more-experienced first basemen C.J. Cron and Greg Bird. While Fuentes is expected to get his opportunities, the signings suggest the Rockies see him in a multi-position role.

“These guys getting signed I guess puts me down on the board or whatever you want to call it,” said Fuentes, who has Minor League options. “But I know I can come in here, compete against both of them and still win that job. More competition is great. I didn’t want to come in here thinking I had everything sewed up.”

Fuentes, cousin of former Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, was an undrafted free agent out of Missouri Baptist University, which had never produced a Major Leaguer before Fuentes debuted in 2019.

“It’s funny, because I had some of my coaches call me after they signed ‘Cronie’ and Bird, and it was, ‘Hey, man, just keep working, do what you’ve always done,’” Fuentes said. “I’ve always been at the bottom of the depth chart and always had to earn my way.”

Closer to the front of the line
The point that the Rockies have gotten younger dawned on Ryan McMahon, the logical successor to Arenado at third base, during the annual photo day.

“Looking at the photo sheet, we do our photo day by service time,” McMahon said. “I think Chuck [outfielder Charlie Blackmon] is the only one over seven years. But there are a lot of guys in the one-, two- and three-year range. So it’s a young core that’s very familiar with each other.

“A lot of us have come up together, so it can be a really good thing. We're really familiar with each other. Hopefully, that translates to some compatibility, some flow out on the field.”