The Colorado Rockies went through a truly fascinating sequence of events during Spring Training, searching for the right person to assume the role of back-up outfielder at all three spots and a quality left-handed bat off the bench.
They began by signing former first round pick Bradley Zimmer who has shown quality defense but never managed to be an above-average hitter in six seasons, mostly with Cleveland.
Though Zimmer was having a decent spring, the Rockies clearly weren’t satisfied as they reached out to an old friend and brought back their own former 15th-round draft pick Sam Hilliard.
Hilliard, too, put up decent numbers in camp but once again was apparently not quite what the club was hoping for as they swung a trade with Tampa to acquire Greg Jones, another lefty (switch-hitting) tools-y outfielder who can also play middle infield.
But they weren’t done yet.
On March 24, with Spring Training coming to a close, they signed veteran Jake Cave, who ultimately won the job.
The whole saga was easy to question including that they ended up landing on the player who had been there the least amount of time and ended up having to DFA a couple of intriguing young players in order to make this all work.
Interestingly enough, both Hilliard and Warming Bernabel, who was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Cave, cleared waivers, returned to the organization, and are currently playing for the Rockies minor league affiliates.
Cave, meanwhile, is making the most of his opportunity and early-season appearances.
Being used primarily as a replacement for Charlie Blackmon in right and a late-game pinch-hitter, Cave is slashing .273/.357/.545 (133 OPS+) and is flashing the leather on some key defensive plays.
During the first homestand of the season, where just about every single game came down to the final few at-bats, the new guy ran down the last out deep in the right-center-field gap to save and secure a rare win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Many an outfielder over the years have misjudged that exact type of flyball at altitude and in his first bit of playing time in Denver (he never played at Coors as a visitor) Cave feels right at home.
“There are some things that are different,” he says, “The ball carries more for sure, it stays up, but I feel comfortable in the outfield. I know there are some challenges but I feel good out there.”
He also appears comfortable at the plate. Don’t forget that the incredible walk-off grand slam by Ryan McMahon on Opening Day started with an excellent encounter where Cave drew a walk.
He knows you’ve got to play to the 27th out.
“That’s universal in the game,” he says. “I’ve been in this position before where I have to be ready late in the game. You can definitely tell that [Coors is] a hitter’s ballpark… but no matter where you are, you’ve got to keep your head in it through the whole game.”
It’s easy to endear yourself to your new teammates when you show up and immediately produce on the field, but it helps even more when you bring the right kind of attitude and energy in the clubhouse and Cave says integrating quickly has been incredibly easy.
“It’s a testament to all the guys in here,” he says. “Everybody’s been awesome. They’ve been super welcoming. It’s the relationships you make. You’re with these guys from Spring Training hopefully through November.”
It’s interesting he should happen to mention November. Cave was on the postseason roster for the 2019 and 2020 Minnesota Twins as well as last year’s Philadelphia Phillies who took the NLCS to a seventh game. He’s no stranger to fall baseball.
As it turned out, his combination of experience and skills made him perhaps the perfect person for this role on the team. His presence on the MLB roster allows younger outfielders to get every day at-bats in Albuquerque while he can step up in a pinch in several helpful ways in the meantime without truly blocking anyone.
Should the day come where the next wave of Rockies prospects emerges and collectively demand their opportunity (hello Jordan Beck) Jake Cave could be an excellent veteran teacher to have around. Or perhaps he could be traded a la Mike Moustakas of a year ago for some pitching that better fits the club’s long-term needs.
In that event, he may yet see postseason baseball again this year.
But for now, Cave isn’t thinking about any of that. He’s focused on tracking balls down in the outfield, running the bases, and putting up good late-game at-bats. Oh, and coming in to work every day with his new teammates.
“I love coming to the clubhouse and messing around with the guys,” he says. “That’s the best part of baseball in my opinion. I just want to be a part of the team and we’re family here now.”
