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Spotlight: Garrett Atkins
Very quietly, the Colorado Rockies are building a team full of quality youngsters who possess the ability to transform the perennial also-ran franchise into contenders in the National League West. Homegrown talents like Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki, Chris Iannetta, Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis all have excellent long-term potential, and third baseman Garrett Atkins may turn out to be the best of the bunch.
Atkins gradually progressed through the Rockies system after being selected in the fifth round of the 2000 draft, steadily developing a bit more power each year while hitting for average and showing strong plate discipline each step of the way. After putting together strong back-to-back seasons at Class AAA Colorado Springs in 2003 (.319-13-67) and 2004 (.366-15-94), Atkins entered 2005 as the Rockies’ starting third baseman.
Unfortunately, Atkins began last season on the disabled list with a strained hamstring that limited him to just 11 at-bats in April after a brilliant spring in which he batted .397 in the Cactus League. He was up and down in the five months that followed, but he finished the season with solid totals, hitting .287 with 13 home runs and 89 RBIs, that latter total ranking first among all rookies. Atkins may not have been a superstar after his first major league campaign. But if nothing else, he established himself as a bona-fide everyday player.
This season, the 26-year-old UCLA product has developed into an All-Star caliber player and one of the better offensive third baseman in the game. He’s hitting well over .300 and is showing more power than ever, having topped 20 home runs for the first time in his pro career while ranking among the NL leaders in doubles.
"He put together a real solid campaign last year, and he’s stretching it out this year," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle told the Los Angeles Daily News.
Atkins knows he’s had his share of bounces go his way in this breakout campaign, but he’s continued to grind out every at-bat, and his increased power isn’t a result of him trying to swing for the fences.
"I’ve been getting a little bit lucky – I’ve had a few infield hits here and there, that’s what you need," Atkins said. "I’ve tried not to change too much. I’ve kind of bounced around all year in the lineup, so I just try to stick with the same approach and try not to do too much and just stay with my line drives. That’s what’s worked for me in the past and will hopefully continue to work for me."
Atkins has entered the upper echelon of major league third baseman, as he’s on a pace to hit more than 25 home runs with 115 RBIs while maintaining a batting average better than .300 and an on-pace percentage close to .400. Unlike last year, he’s also been extremely consistent, hitting over .300 in each month except May (.278) and performing equally well at home and on the road and against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers. In short, he’s become the kind of player fantasy owners draft and insert into their lineup at the beginning of the season without having to worry about all year.
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