New Country, New League, New Team: Randal Grichuk Acclimates to the Rocky Mountains

Randal Grichuk had his world turned upside down during Spring Training as a swap of outfielders sent him from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Colorado Rockies. The trade not only sent Grichuk from the American League to the National League, but switched up countries (Canada to the United States) as well as home park atmospheres (the often closed roof and always artificial turf of Rogers Centre to the wide open expanses of Coors Field with natural grass).

There was plenty that could have sidetracked Grichuk in his first few weeks of making an impression on the Rockies faithful, but Grichuk looked at the move from Toronto (a team he had suited up for for the past four seasons) as a chance to start over.

“I’m super happy now,” Grichuk said. “In the moment, you’re excited about a new opportunity, but you’re also sad that you leave all your friends that you’ve created relationships with, including your teammates and your coaches. I was really close with some of the players, but being able to come to Spring Training at home (Grichuk lives in Arizona in the offseason) and be in Colorado with a great ballpark, great city, and great fan base, I couldn’t be happier.”

It didn’t take long for Grichuk to settle into a role with the Rockies, a team that, like the Blue Jays, has plenty of outfielders all vying for playing time.

“I think it’s one of those things where you just have to go out there and play. You can’t get upset if you don’t play. Everybody wants to be in there every day, but we do have a ton of guys in the outfield and everyone really deserves to play. Everybody’s been playing well, so we just work together as a unit and see what each day holds and support each other.”

Grichuk has quickly blended into an outfield that returned Charlie Blackmon, Yonathan Daza, Sam Hilliard, Connor Joe, and Garrett Hampson. He also quickly learned that each brings his own talents and work ethic to the field every day.

“They are all just honestly good dudes who work hard and want to win. That’s all you can ask for in a teammate,” Grichuk said. “I feel like even Charlie, you know, I feel like he kind of still goes about it like it’s still his first year in the big leagues. He also prepares like he has something to prove. He’s super focused throughout the day, throughout the game, and then even after the game.”

Grichuk brings his own focus every day to the clubhouse, Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron said.

“The veteran presence in the clubhouse that he brings has been great,” said Cron, who has his locker in close proximity to Grichuk’s. “He expects a lot out of his teammates and out of himself especially, so he’s been really good for us. I think his defensive play has been outstanding. With the big outfield here at Coors Field, it’s been great to have him catching every ball that goes out there. He’s been great so far.”

Ah yes, Grichuk and those catches. That’s become something that he has become known for in a very short amount of time wearing purple. His signature defensive moment so far with the Rockies came in Texas against the Rangers on April 12, very early in his Rockies career, robbing Corey Seager of a three-run home run by scaling the fence at Globe Life Field and preserving a Rockies win.