Charlie Blackmon confirmed up at Rockies Fest on Saturday with a brand new haircut and a brand new title.
The veteran Colorado Rockies outfielder, who retired on the finish of 2024 after spending all 14 of his Main League Baseball seasons with the franchise, was introduced because the crew’s latest particular assistant to normal supervisor Invoice Schmidt. According to a release from the Rockies, Blackmon will help in all areas of baseball operations.
Though Blackmon misplaced his trademark mullet in between his final MLB recreation on the finish of September and Saturday’s debut together with his new rule, he was nonetheless rocking the beard that helped make him “Chuck Nazty” to a technology of Rockies followers.
“I simply felt it was time to scrub it up a bit of bit,” Blackmon mentioned.
That dedication he confirmed to the Rockies all through his profession the place he was a four-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger helped launch the following part of his baseball life.
“The Rockies are a very nice group,” Blackmon mentioned. “They have been unimaginable to me and my household. And it is actually nice to have the chance to proceed to be concerned and proceed to be across the group and the sport. I am very enthusiastic about this yr and the chance.”
Blackmon mentioned he’ll seemingly be concerned in some scouting this season in addition to spending time in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the Rockies throughout spring coaching and educational drills. That, he mentioned, permits the eagerness he felt for the sport of baseball to proceed in one other avenue.
“I do not assume you could be a participant at this stage the quantity of competitiveness it is advisable have to achieve success within the huge leagues, after which simply flip baseball off,” Blackmon mentioned. “I am unable to do this, so I used to be going to be round it, whether or not I used to be shopping for a ticket or watching on TV, or no matter it could be. However I am glad that it is an official capability across the group.”
“A man like Charlie, baseball does not simply depart you,” added Rockies supervisor Bud Black, who managed Blackmon for the ultimate eight years of his profession. “It is in his blood. Some guys are capable of stroll away when it is over. Charlie’s not a type of guys.”
Blackmon added that this position, for now, wasn’t full-time, giving him time within the months after his on-field retirement to spend together with his household whereas additionally studying one other facet of baseball.
“I do assume that this primary yr, I’ll spend an entire lot of time with my household, and I am simply glad to have the ability to have that baseball outlet,” Blackmon mentioned.
All quotations obtained firsthand except in any other case famous.
