ROCKIES

Former Rockies outfielder Dexter Fowler calls it a career

Jan 31, 2023, 8:11 PM
Dexter Fowler...
Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images

The best switch hitter in Colorado Rockies history is called it a career on Tuesday, Dexter Fowler shared on social media that he is retiring from professional baseball.

Fowler’s longest stop in his 14-year MLB career came in Colorado, where he came up through the system as a 14th-round draft pick out of Georgia. Fowler is one of the best selections that deep into the draft in baseball history, only Dave Parker, Bob Welch, Rick Honeycutt and Keith Foulk accumulated more WAR from the 14th round.

Fowler broke into the big leagues for a cup of coffee in 2008. He then was sent back down, turning himself into a switch hitter and then cementing himself as one of baseball’s better rookies in 2009, as he helped pushed the Rockies into the postseason.

Fowler was traded to the Astros after the 2013 season for Brandon Barnes and Jordan Lyles. He’d then play for the Cubs, Cardinals and Angels.

Fowler became the first — and still is the only — player to hit a leadoff home run in Game 7 of the World Series, when he helped the 2016 Chicago break their 108-year title drought.

Fowler spent parts of last season trying to battle back to the bigs.

Fowler played 1,460 games in MLB, 667 for the Rockies. In Colorado he slashed .270/.365/.423 with 40 HR, 83 SB and 210 RBI.

He’ll be remember for his contributions elsewhere but he also will forever be a Rockies favorite for fans from a certain era.
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