Bouchard eager for bounceback season

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies outfielder Sean Bouchard solo home run Friday against the Guardians and his two-run triple on Saturday against the Diamondbacks served, finally, as Spring Training headlines to enjoy. Bouchard made only painful news the last two years at Salt River Fields.

Bouchard finished his debut season of 2022 with a .954 OPS in 27 games and was rising on the depth chart. But he underwent surgery for torn left biceps in spring 2023. Penciled for the right-field job last spring, Bouchard sustained an oblique injury and began the year at Triple-A Albuquerque. He appeared in just 31 Major League games in ‘24 before undergoing postseason surgery for a fractured hamate in his right hand.

Bouchard, 28, entered this spring nowhere near the top of the list of outfield storylines.

The big subjects are whether Nolan Jones can regain his rookie form of 2023 and which organizational products will work their way into playing time, with Charlie Blackmon retired and Kris Bryant slated for a good chunk of his at-bats coming as a designated hitter.

Jordan Beck turned heads in Triple-A last year before a hand injury muted his impact. Possibilities for Rockies prospects Zac Veen, Yanquiel Fernandez and Benny Montgomery are the new stories of this spring. But Bouchard can work his way back into the conversation.

The case Bouchard had for making the lineup last season still holds. His .368 on-base percentage in 248 Major League plate appearances is an intriguing stat for a strikeout-prone lineup, and his 32 home runs and 103 RBIs in 131 Triple-A games the last three seasons suggest run production.

If Bouchard sustains that success, he’ll make headlines soon enough.

“I leave that stuff to you guys,” Bourchard said with his usual good-natured smile. “I am just focused on how I can better myself singularly as a player and at the same time, I’m focused on how I can position myself to help the team.

“I know obviously there are a lot of young guys, a lot of big prospects. That’s fun. That’s exciting. To be kind of forgotten is a challenge. Hey, I have a chance to come back and remind some people, but really I’m trying to be healthy and put the best version of myself on the field.”

The right-handed-hitting Bouchard’s control of the strike zone and potential for offense are pluses. He played mostly first base at UCLA before the Rockies took him in the ninth round in 2017, so his outfield defense is still developing.

“Sean will be the first to tell you, we’ve got to keep him on the field,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s been nicked up a little bit in his career, even as a Minor League player. But there’s a fundamental hitter in there that’s appealing.”

Bouchard has another year of Minor League options, but a strong camp performance could make Albuquerque a non-issue. He’d also like to put the injury issues behind him.

“As I stand now, I want to get off this injury train,” Bouchard said.