The Rockies have made some roster moves this afternoon, several hours before kicking off a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Struggling outfielder Sam Hilliard has been optioned to the alternate training site, and the Rockies have selected the contract of first baseman Matt Adams to the big league squad.
The left-handed Adams played for the St. Louis Cardinals for most of his career before brief stints with the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals. He was a member of the National’s World Series team in 2019. Over nine years in the majors he is a career .259/.307/.467 hitter with 118 home runs. Adams spent the shortened 2020 season with the Braves, hitting .184/.216/.347 with two home runs in 49 at-bats.
It’s certainly an interesting move for the Rockies. Optioning Hilliard makes sense to get him regular at-bats to try and right his ship. He’s struggling immensely with a slash of .108/.154/.324, and a ghastly K% of 48.7 in 37 at-bats. However, Adams hasn’t hit over .250 since 2017, and has also struggled with strikeouts in recent seasons. In 2019 with the Nationals his K% was 34.5, and in 2020 with the Braves it was 35.3.
In an additional move, the Rockies have also designated RHP Ashton Goudeau for assignment.