HomeColorado sports5 Best Colorado Rockies Players of All Time

5 Best Colorado Rockies Players of All Time

Ryan Womeldorf

Jun 06, 2023

5 min read

The Colorado Rockies have certainly made their mark in the Major Leagues, despite only being around for just under 30 years. In this article, we will be highlighting the five best Colorado Rockies players of all time, who have helped shape the franchise and leave a lasting impression on fans.

If you love betting on sports in Colorado you must be familiar with the Rockies.

While the Rockies may not have the same storied history as other MLB teams, they have certainly produced some talented athletes over the years. Coors Field has seen some exciting games and incredible performances, with these five players being at the forefront.

Best Colorado Rockies Players of All Time

From pitchers to outfielders, the players highlighted here have all contributed significantly to the success of the Colorado Rockies. Their accomplishments on the field have earned them a place in the hearts of fans and cemented their legacy as some of the best players in the Rockies’ history.

Read on to find out who made our list of the best Colorado Rockies players of all time. Let the debate begin as there is likely to be some qualms with at least a couple of names on the list, just before the Rockies opening season game.

1.) Todd Helton (1997-2013)

When talking about the best Rockies players of all time, you can’t help but start with Todd Helton. He was selected 8th overall in 1995 by the Rockies, signing in August of that year. From the time of his Major League debut in 1997 to the end of his career in 2013, it was clear that Helton was a special player.

Helton is, without question, at the top of the best Rockies players ever. His entire career was spent in Denver, and he is the franchise leader in just about every significant category: fWAR (54.9), hits (2,519), singles (1,521), doubles (592), extra base hits (998), home runs (369), RBI (1,406), total bases (4,292), and runs scored (1,401).

During the bulk of his career, he was one of the best first basemen not only in the National League but all of baseball. In 10 consecutive seasons, Helton hit no worse than .302, driving in 100 or more runs in four of those seasons.

Helton’s power and defensive prowess left him with a list of accolades a mile long. He was a Gold Glove Award winner three times (2001, 2002, 2004), a Silver Slugger Award winner four times (2000-2003) and won the Hank Aaron Award once (2000).

It goes without saying that Helton now has his #17 retired by the Rockies. When you think of the Rockies during the 2000s and 2010s, you can’t help but think of Helton first and foremost. He may even be a bit underappreciated on a league-wide basis but fans of the Rockies will remember his contributions for a long time to come.

Todd Helton’s farewell after 17 years with the Rockies was well covered on social media. Many special moments were documented, and one of the final #ThanksTodd tweets was perhaps the most powerful: a photo of Todd’s thank you message in the @denverpost.#RockiesSmartphoneHistory pic.twitter.com/EE7zMELAmo

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) February 7, 2018

2.) Larry Walker (1995-2004)

Best season in Colorado: 1997 – .366/.452/.720, 49 HR, 130 RBI, 78 BB, 1.172 OPS, 178 OPS+, 9.1 fWAR
Career stats in Colorado: .334/.426/.618, 258 HR, 848 RBI, 584 BB, 1,361 hits, 1.044 OPS, 147 OPS+, 44 fWAR

When you think of hitters in the 1990s, it is hard not to have Larry Walker come to mind. Walker was already something of a star when he arrived in Denver prior to the 1995 season. He made history by signing a free agent pact with the Rockies, a four-year/$22.5 million deal that was the largest since the MLB strike of 1994.

He wasted no time making an impact for the Rockies. As one of the most underrated players in Major League history, Walker tore it up for the Rockies, making four All-Star Teams, winning five Gold Glove Awards, and even winning the NL MVP in 1997.

His stats in Colorado would be off the charts. In addition to winning a batting title and MVP, Walker would have another trio of top-10 finishes in the MVP voting. In 1999, he would win the battling title again hitting an astounding .379 with 37 home runs and 115 RBI.

Walker’s career numbers are nothing short of incredible. His .334 average during his time in Denver just goes to show the incredible hitter that he was during his time in the Mile High City. Walker’s accomplishments were among the more underrated careers in MLB history but he certainly gets recognition from the Rockies faithful and is deservedly in our list of Colorado Rockies best players.

Larry Walker fun facts, from the Rockies broadcast pic.twitter.com/rL0efJuA46

— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) September 8, 2021

3.) Nolan Arenado (2013-2020)

Best season in Colorado: 2019 – .315/.379/.583, 41 HR, 118 RBI, 62 BB, .962 OPS, 131 OPS+, 6.1 fWAR
Career stats in Colorado: .293/.349/.541, 235 HR, 760 RBI, 362 BB, 1,206 hits, .890 OPS, 121 OPS+, 32.5 fWAR

Aenado is not only one of the best Colorado Rockies players of all time but may very well be one of the best defensive players of all-time period. His eight seasons in Colorado put him on a trajectory to be at the top of this list – if he had stuck around.

Unfortunately, his tenure in Colorado ended in 2021. He was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals along with $51 million in exchange for Mateo Gil, Austin Gomber, Elehuris Montero, Jake Sommers, and Tony Locey. It was a blow to the Rockies for sure.

Arenado won the Gold Glove Award in each of his eight seasons in Denver, and was even awarded the National League’s top fielder accolade – the Platinum Glove Award – on five different occasions. That kind of defensive presence is one you do not replace easily. He would also leave as the franchise leader in defensive WAR at 15.6.

Oh, it turns out his bat was pretty incredible during his time in Denver, too. Arenado led the National League in home runs thrice (2015, 2016, 2018) and RBI twice (2015, 2016). He is the kind of all-around player that any franchise would dream of.

At 31 years old, there is a lot of time left for Arendao, though it will presumably be with the Cardinals. Still, he is clearly on a Hall of Fame trajectory and may very well wear a Rockies cap when he does go in, which would undoubtedly making him one of the best Rockies players ever.

Austin Gomber & Elehuris Montero. That’s what the Rockies got for first ballot HOF Nolan Arenado
pic.twitter.com/QJ5H7YSsgR

— Derek (@Twins_DOM) March 14, 2023

4.) Vinny Castilla (1993-99, 2004, 2006)

Best season in Colorado: 1998 – .319/.362/.589, 44 HR, 144 RBI, 14 BB, .951 OPCS, 127 OPS+, 4.5 fWAR
Career stats in Colorado: .294/.340/.530, 239 HR, 745 RBI, 273 BB, 1,206 hits, .870 OPS, 106 OPS+, 15.2 fWAR

The 1990s were a good time for the Rockies. Names like Andreas “Big Cat” Galaragga, Larry Walker, and Todd Helton were part of various lineups in Denver. Without a doubt, one of the best Colorado Rockies players of all time to suit up for the team is Vinicio “Vinny” Castilla.

Castilla would have a few different stops in the Mile High City, but his most memorable was his run from 1993-1999. It turns out that Castilla is also the best player to be taken in the 1992 Expansion Draft. The Rockies took Castilla with the 20th pick, snagging him from the Atlanta Braves.

Castilla had a breakout performance in 1995, hitting 32 home runs on his way to his first All-Star Game selection. The next three seasons would be an incredible run for Castilla. He would hit 126 home runs and drive in 370 runs, but the 1998 season would be his finest. That year, he hit 46 home runs, drove in 144 runs, and hit for a .319 average. He also took part in the Home Run Derby, held at Coors Field that year.

He would ultimately be traded to Tampa Bay before returning to Denver in 2004. His 2004 season had many dreams of the 1990s, with Castilla hitting 35 home runs and driving in 131 runs. He would have a down year in Washington in 2005 before finishing his career with split duty between San Diego and Colorado. Castilla may not have the longevity of some but his tenure was all about results.

Castilla had some of the best seasons for a Rocky ever. Though he would spend time elsewhere, it is hard to think of him as being anything other than one of Colorado Rockies best players ever.

Congrats to Vinny Castilla for being inducted into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame!👏 pic.twitter.com/9OlV8Gsers

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) November 15, 2022

5.) Troy Tulowitzki (2006-2015)

Best season in Colorado: 2009 – .297/.377/.552, 32 HR, 92 RBI, 73 BB, .930 OPS, 131 OPS+, 5.3 fWAR
Career stats in Colorado: .299/.371/.513, 188 HR, 567 RBI, 435 BB, 1,165 hits, .885 OPS, 123 OPS+, 34.3 fWAR

Though there have not been too many bright seasons in the history of the franchise, it looked as though Tulowitzki was on the verge of taking the franchise to greatness. After all, he helped lead the team to its only World Series appearance back in 2007.

In fact, Tulowitzki is undoubtedly one of the best Rockies players ever. The Rockies have only been around since 1993 but during Tulowitzki’s tenure, they made the playoffs twice (2007, 2009), which is saying something considering they have just five playoff appearances to their name.

Injuries became a huge issue for “Tulo” throughout his career in Colorado but it couldn’t stop him from being a major force. He was runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year in 2007. In parts of 10 seasons in Denver, he would make five All-Star Game appearances. He also won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards twice during his time.

If not for the injury issues that he faced throughout his career, Tulowitzki could very well have been in the Hall of Fame conversation. For now, he will have to settle for being one of the greatest to ever wear the black and purple of the Rockies.

Congratulations to Troy Tulowitzki on an incredible career, one of the greatest #Rockies of all time! pic.twitter.com/bacvYKcjD5

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 26, 2019

Credits on Featured Image: Alex Juel