Rockies 1B C.J. Cron lauded for strong start

One MLB.com writer counts Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron among the top offseason acquisitions to have “exceeded expectations”

BY JOHNNY HART

May 11, 2021, 3:54 PM Updated: 3:55 pm

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While it’s shaping up to be a long season down at 20th and Blake, Colorado Rockies first baseman C.J. Cron has put up career numbers thus far in the young MLB season.

On Tuesday, Cron — who has a slash line of .359/.446/.625 over his past 20 games — was lauded by MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince as one of the best offseason acquisitions in terms of “exceeding expectations.”

“Yes, Coors Field is baked into those results, but Cron’s ballpark- and league-adjusted 134 OPS+ is 22 points higher than his career norm,” Castrovince writes. “This is really an extension of a strong start he had for the Tigers in the shortened 2020 season before a left knee injury that required surgery.”

Cron signed a minor league deal with the Rockies in February that included an invite to spring training, where he would make the 40-man roster after batting .354/.415/.771 and leading the team with five home runs.

In 29 games for the Rockies this season, Cron has batted .290 with a .394 on-base percentage, .495 slugging percentage, 15 RBIs and five home runs.

However, on Monday the Rockies placed Cron on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 7, with a back strain.