Hope blooms during spring training. Young players burst on the scene with Cactus League home runs and inflated batting averages. For some, it’s a launching pad to big-league success. For others, it turns out to be a false spring.
Following are snapshots of six Rockies players who excelled in spring training, three of whom starred in the majors and three who never met lofty expectations:
RISING STARS
1B Todd Helton, 1998: A first-round draft choice in 1995, Helton made his big-league debut in August 1997, hitting .280 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 35 games.