Nolan Arenado Reflects on Colorado Roots as He Rejoins the NL West
Scottsdale, Arizona — Nolan Arenado was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft. He stepped onto an MLB field for the first time on April 28, 2013, and what followed became a storied chapter in the sport.
Arenado spent eight seasons in Colorado, a period filled with triumphs and trials. He earned eight Gold Gloves, four Platinum Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, five All-Star nods, two postseason appearances, and a string of breathtaking defensive and offensive moments. Yet there were rough patches too. After a highly public dispute with Rockies management in 2020, Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals on February 1, 2021—less than two years after signing an eight-year, $260 million extension.
His five years in St. Louis brought more highs and lows: two additional Gold Gloves, one more Silver Slugger, three more All-Star selections, two more trips to the playoffs, and more jaw-dropping plays on both sides of the ball. Still, a down year in 2025 for both him and the Cardinals preceded a trade that would bring him back to the NL West, this time with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I’m really excited about returning to the NL West,” Arenado said. “I know the division well, but there are lots of new faces and new pitchers to face. I’m also very familiar with the ballparks, since I grew up in this division. Adjusting should come more easily than you’d expect.”
As always, Arenado sets high expectations for himself and his new club.
“I think this team is very good,” he added. “This offense would rank in the Top 10 even without me, but I believe I can make a meaningful impact. I’m working on tweaks that I think will unlock the level I know I’m capable of reaching. I keep my goals personal, but they’re certainly ambitious, and I don’t plan to temper them.”
Yet the memories of his Rockies years remain special.
“Without a doubt, the core I played with—beginning with Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Dustin Morneau, and others—was amazing,” Arenado recalled.
“Then there were players like Carlos González, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, and DJ LeMahieu. When I look at today’s Rockies, I often think, ‘I’m not sure I’d recognize many of these guys.’ Still, the past was truly special. The more I reflect, the more I realize that team might have been among the best offenses I’ve ever been a part of.”
Even after years apart, Arenado maintains ties with many former teammates, including Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela, with whom he shared the diamond from 2017–2021.
“When I see Free, I greet him. Same with Senza. Those guys were young when they came up and did great work on the mound. I wish them healthy success. I still text Charlie regularly, and DJ and Story aren’t strangers either. We still trade barbs and keep the friendship alive.”
Arenado also has history with Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, dating back to their Double-A days.
“I played with him in Double-A when I was still finding my footing,” Arenado said. “I was a handful back then, but we clicked because we both valued hard work. He was a tireless worker, and even when he wasn’t starting, he showed up daily and pushed himself. That’s the kind of mindset that shapes great teams.”
Schaeffer echoed that sentiment, recalling Arenado’s early rise.
“I enjoyed watching him back then,” Schaeffer noted. “He was the young kid coming up, and I was the veteran on the bench. He showed up early, practiced harder than almost anyone, and that blend of work ethic and talent is why he’s become a future Hall of Famer. He’s one of my favorite players I’ve ever seen.”
As Arenado enters what could be the final chapters of his illustrious career, Hall of Fame talk has hovered over him since his Colorado days. Yet he isn’t letting that focus dominate him.
“Being in the conversation is flattering, but I don’t dwell on it,” he said. “I’ve got a full season ahead in Arizona. I intend to play well, hold myself to high standards, and we’ll cross that bridge when we reach it.”
To the surprise of no one who enjoys the showmanship of his defense, Arenado also named some of his favorite defensive moments—moments that underscore why fans watch:
Would you like this profile to lean more into specific plays and highlights, or keep the balance between behind-the-scenes memories and on-field magic? Share your takeaway in the comments and tell us which Arenado moment you’d rank as the best of his career.
