SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In the Rockies’ perfect world, center fielder Brenton Doyle will mimic Charlie Blackmon’s historic 2017 season.
In ’17, Blackmon hit .331 to win the National League batting title, slugged 37 homers and set a then-major league record with 103 RBIs from the leadoff position (since surpassed by Mookie Betts’s 107 and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 106 in 2023).
Friday, in Colorado’s Cactus League opener against the Diamondbacks at Salt River Field, Doyle hit a first-pitch fastball from Gerardo Gutierrez for a grand slam in the fourth inning in Colorado’s 12-8 victory. The ball traveled 443 feet to right-center center field.