Friday Rockpile: Celebrating Rockies hitting the mitt in 2024

Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, November 1, 2024

Back in 2018, a new feature was unveiled at Coors Field. Tucked in the left field corner just inside the foul pole, an 18-foot-by-30-foot red banner encourages hitters to land a home run here with a picture of a glove with HIT THE above it and FOR CHARITY UCHealth Live Extraordinary under it.

Each year the Colorado Rockies and UCHealth partner with a local charity and UCHealth donates $5,000 every time a Rockie hits the banner with a homer.

In the past, organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Feeding Colorado, Food for Thought Denver, American Cancer Society, and Gold Crown Foundation (youth sports) benefited from the partnership. Every season, I feel like I notice a few long bombs hit the mitt and get excited about the odds of it happening and the non-profit organization that will benefit. Then it’s on to the next play.

So, inspired by Skyler Timmins’ article on Rockies doubles for McDonald’s double cheeseburgers, I thought it would be good to give a shoutout to all the Hit the Mitt homers this season. In 2024, UCHealth partnered with Next Chapter, which helps support veterans and their families transition back to civil life after serving in the military by teaming up with other non-profit organizations. The mitt was hit five times, and with $5,000 a knock, that generated $25,000 for Next Chapter.

The Rockies wasted no time in posting the first money-earning homer as Kris Bryant hit a two-run shot in the eighth inning of the home opener to the red banner on April 5 against the Tampa Rays. Bryant only played in 37 games and only hit two homers. It’s pretty amazing that he had a 50% rate of hitting the mark. Bryant also recorded the hardest hit (105.5 mph) and longest homer (422 feet) for Next Chapter.

The next day, on April 6, after Ryan McMahon hit a walk-off homer to end the home opener, McMahon hit his second homer of the season and this time it hit the mitt. This shot clocked in at 95.8 mph and landed 369 feet from home plate. McMahon’s homer was the only of the Rockies five that wouldn’t have been a homer in all 30 MLB parks (just not at Camden Yards in Baltimore).

Later that month, Elehuris Montero hit his first of two UCHealth longballs. In another anomaly, another player who didn’t play in a lot of games (67) and only hit four homers, managed to land half of them in the red mitt. The first one — on April 25 against the Padres — went 364 feet at 95.4 mph.

Montero hit his last one on May 28 against the Cubs. This one traveled 384 feet at 98.8 mph.

Ezequiel Tovar hit the other UCHealth homer on May 12 against Texas. Tovar led the Rockies with 26 homers, so it seems only fitting that he earned a spot in the hit-the-mitt club. Hit longball flew at 100.8 mph and went 389 feet.

In terms of odd stats, the Rockies hit all five charity homers in their first 25 games at Coors Field then went the next 54 without one. The Rockies went 3-2 when the recorded a hit the mitt homer. Despite the slump in the final two-thirds of the season, hit the mitt was still a success.

However, the most lucrative day for the charity partnership came on June 12 when members of the Denver Broncos, along with local media celebrities and social media influencers, paired up with veterans in the sixth annual Healthy Swings home run derby at Coors Field.

Led by Broncos two-time Healthy Swing champion Courtland Sutton, Pat Surtain II, Jaleel McLaughlin, Jared Allen, Matt Henningsen and Jarrett Stidham, the event raised $120,000 million for partners of Next Chapter, including “Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, which provides wrap-around services for veterans in Colorado Springs; NAMI – the National Alliance for Mental Illness; and Silver Key, an organization that serves older adults.”

Whether it’s a celebrity derby or homer in an MLB game, home runs are always wonderful. A ball traveling 100 mph and landing farther than a football field away is a sight to behold. It’s even better when they raise money for the amazing folks who serve in the military. With Veteran’s Day approaching on Nov. 11, it seems like a good time to thank all veterans and current military members for their service, and tip our hats to the amazing organizations connecting them to the resources they need.

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Yankees’ 2024 Free Agents, Trade Targets, Offseason Guide After World Series Loss | Bleacher Report

Joel Reuter broke down next steps for the Yankees after falling to the Dodgers int he World Series and predicts the Yankees will become trade partners with the Colorado Rockies for Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers has featured in many trade rumors the past few seasons and Reuter even admits to the Rockies reluctance to trade talented players could be an issue on the Rockies taking much action this offseason.

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Arizona Fall League

Mesa Solar Sox 17, Salt River Rafters 4

The Salt River Rafters didn’t have a very fun Halloween as the Solar Sox scored 11 runs in the first inning on their way to a big win on Thursday. At least the Rockies prospects faired decently. LHP Michael Prosecky entered in the third inning and threw 2 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings, giving up three hits and two walks, but striking out four. First baseman Skyler Messinger recorded a single in four at-bats, while right fielder Juan Guerrero went 0-for-4.

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