Sports Reporter
Stan Schrock
scschroc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
The Colorado Rockies’ rookie-league affiliate Grand Junction Rockies and former CMU baseball standout Jeff Popick are returning to Grand Junction for the team’s final homestand of the season on Sept. 1.
Popick, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Lakewood, currently plays outfield for the Grand Junction Rockies and has helped put the team atop the division standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
The six-game homestand heading into the playoffs can be a great momentum shift for the Rockies, who will be playing with the energy of the home crowd. The final homecoming will be especially sweet for Popick, as it is uncommon for a player to remain close to home in his first professional season.
“I feel very lucky to be able to start my professional career where I started college,” Popick said. “It means a lot being from Colorado and being able to stay in the state and in a city I’m familiar with.”
Popick’s presence on the squad benefited the team by bringing more fans, which has helped build a 20-12 home record compared to a 16-16 record on the road.
“Popick has had a very good impact on the club in the way that the fans have rallied behind him because he is a local kid,” Mike Ruvolo, assistant general manager, said. “It has improved the play of others on the field.”
Ruvolo also said Popick’s personal play has been a boost for the team. He has the fourth highest batting average on the team, hitting .350 for the season. He is also in the top five of every major statistical category, with 30 RBI and a .432 on-base percentage.
“(Popick) has been a pleasant surprise for the organization,” Ruvolo said. “A great player on the field and a great ambassador for the Rockies off the field.”
Regardless of sport or job, any transition from being an amateur to a professional can be difficult. Another quality Popick has shown is his adaptability to new challenging situations, including facing off with better and faster competition.
“The biggest difference so far has been the pitching day in and day out,” Popick said. “These pitchers are some of the best and there’s a reason they’re in professional baseball.”
He attributes his chance to play in several summer college leagues with similar schedules as a main reason for his quick adjustment.
“I believe Jeff has adapted very well to professional baseball,” Ruvolo said. “I really haven’t seen a change from when I saw him play at CMU.”
With the end of the season approaching fast, Popick will be working hard to prove himself to the organization, as decisions will soon be made regarding players’ futures. In spite of this, he continues to have a confident, positive attitude moving forward.
“My hopes and expectations are to go have a great spring training and head to Asheville or Modesto to start next year and just keep working to get to the next level,” Popick said.
Popick’s opportunity to further impress the Rockies begins with Saturday night’s matchup against the Idaho Falls Chukars. First pitch will be thrown at 7 p.m. at Suplizio Field.
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