Rockies star outfielder Charlie Blackmon clearly put the time off from baseball to good use, by keeping in shape, as he’s started off this season at an otherworldly pace at the plate.
Blackmon is hitting .500 (!), going 34-for-68 from the dish. Few players in MLB history have gotten out to a start as hot as his, which has already put Blackmon’s incredible pace in the same discussion as Ted Williams’ unbelievable .406 batting average season, which he mustered in 1941. But to do this against modern pitchers throwing 100+ mph, with a number of different pitches in their arsenal, is exceptional.
And Blackmon hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down anytime soon.
He hit .314 last season, with his best campaign coming in 2017, when he hit .331, with 37 home runs and 104 RBIs as well (while also taking 65 walks).
It will, however, be interesting to see how opposing teams pitch to Blackmon, given how difficult he’s been to get out. They can choose to pitch around him at times, but it’s not like they’re excited to pitch to Nolan Arenado with Blackmon on base, either. So they’ll need to pick their poison going forward.
