After being considered by many one of the cornerstone players for the San Francisco Giants as recently as two seasons ago, Thairo Estrada is hoping to deliver that same kind of impact now with the Colorado Rockies.
Signed by Colorado to a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2026 campaign, Estrada was a force on the bases and at the plate for the Giants in 2022 and 2023. During those two campaigns, he swiped a combined 44 bases while hitting 28 homers and posting a slash line of .266/.319/.408.
However, injuries and a lack of production in 2024 (.217/.247/.343 in 381 plate appearances) signaled a quick end to his four seasons in San Francisco.
“You never expect to move. It’s something that you always expect to be a big part of a team and be a part of an organization,” Estrada said through an interpreter on Thursday. “But I understand that baseball is a business. It’s the reality of the sport. It’s something that you have to accept and keep moving on.”
Estrada will move on to the Rockies and take over at second base, strengthening an infield that already includes a Gold Glove winner at shortstop (Ezequiel Tovar) and a four-time Gold Glove nominee at third base (Ryan McMahon). He will also add experience to a Rockies lineup that is expected to grow younger this season with several top prospects knocking on the door at Coors Field.
“The most important thing is just helping out in any little way I can,” Estrada said. “That’s gonna be my biggest focus, just helping these guys, whether it’s mentoring a little bit or helping on the field. That’s kind of my objective and goal.”
Colorado is hoping that Estrada can replicate the success in Denver that he has had as a visiting player during his career (.348/.406/.565 slash line in 102 plate appearances).
“I really like the stadium. I enjoy hitting there,” Estrada said. “My main focus when I’m hitting is to hit it down the middle and let the ball run down there. So I feel like, mentally, it’s going to help me.”
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
