Rockies bring back Todd Helton as special assistant to GM

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies are including a brand new member to their baseball operations who simply so occurs to be their profession chief in video games, hits and just about each different hitting class.

Retired first baseman Todd Helton joined the crew as a particular assistant to common supervisor Invoice Schmidt. Helton’s new function consists of pitching in with some draft preparation and scouting however principally specializing in aiding on the minor-league stage.

“I’m glad Todd is leaping again in,” Rockies supervisor Bud Black mentioned Saturday earlier than his crew performed the Los Angeles Dodgers. “I feel it’s good for Todd to get reconnected to our group. … I find it irresistible.”

Helton spent 17 seasons with the Rockies, who chosen him out of the College of Tennessee with the No. 8 choose within the 1995 draft. All Helton did was go on to grow to be the franchise’s chief in runs (1,401), hits (2,519), doubles (592), homers (369) and RBIs (1,406) to call a number of.

He had his No. 17 retired by the crew on Aug. 17, 2014.

“His ardour, the place he’s at in his life, thought they have been all good factors and he has loads so as to add,” Schmidt mentioned of bringing Helton on board. “So we wished to him to be part of us.”

A five-time All-Star, Helton stays one of many major faces of the franchise. His jersey remains to be a prevalent sight round Coors Subject.

Helton obtained 52% of the Corridor of Fame vote in his fourth yr of eligibility and has as much as six extra appearances on the poll.

The hiring of Helton could possibly be the beginning of extra big-name Rockies serving to out. Former Rockies supervisor Clint Hurdle was employed as a particular assistant to Schmidt in December.

Helton and Hurdle have been with the Rockies throughout their solely World Sequence look in 2007, once they have been swept by the Boston Purple Sox.

“There’s extra on the market that we wish to become involved with us,” Schmidt mentioned.

Schmidt sees Helton’s teaching type with the minor leaguers moving into any course he deems productive or maybe being a sounding board.

“Simply being there, having a participant have the ability to speak to any individual that’s went by means of what they’re attempting to go to,“ Schmidt mentioned. ”He did it at a really excessive stage and hopefully sometime he’s going to be a Corridor of Famer right here within the close to future.“

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