DENVER -- By all rights, it would have made more sense if the story began with catcher Drew Butera -- who has hit a home run in each of the Rockies' intrasquad games as he competes for a roster spot -- requesting an autograph. Instead, it started in 2010, with eventual Hall of Famer Jim Thome making a surprise request of Butera.

Thome was in the hired-bat, veteran-presence phase of his career as a member of the Twins. Butera was a rookie.

”I’ll never forget, my first plane ride, he grabbed me and sat me down next to him, and I stayed there the whole year,” said Butera, who turns 37 on Aug. 9 and has spent his entire career on the move.

Butera won’t be a Hall of Famer, but Thome wasn’t trying to make him one. All Thome wanted to do was make Butera a professional who winning teams want. Butera later backed up Salvador Perez on the 2015 World Series champion Royals.

In 2018, the Rockies acquired Butera from the Royals and included him on their postseason roster. His biggest contribution came in their National League Wild Card Game win over the Cubs, when Butera had to calm a keyed-up, scattershot Adam Ottavino to keep his wildness from throwing the game away in the seventh inning.

Now -- even though social distancing and mask-wearing protocols on the team plane will make exchanges like he had with Thome more difficult -- Butera is the type of player in position to pass on Thome’s lessons.

To learn, Butera recalled, he had to turn off the electronics and listen to Thome.

“The first flight I had, my iPad or my little DVD/video player, a portable one, I started watching some films,” Butera recalled. “I think it was the movie 'Jumper.' And he nudged me. I realized, ‘I’m sitting next to Jim Thome. What am I doing?’ I took my headset off and we started talking. It was really cool.

“I was old-school. I was always taught to get to the field early. But by the time I’d get to the field at 12, he was in a full sweat. There’s a reason why he’s a Hall of Famer -- not just because of his talent, but because of his work ethic and who he was as a person. He was that guy for me.”

Butera’s mentor skills kicked into high gear last season. He signed with the Phillies, but he was released after Spring Training and rejoined the Rockies at Triple-A Albuquerque, which had prospect Dom Nuñez. Butera has done all he can to earn the right to continue as a veteran presence in 2020.

In intrasquad games, Butera homered twice and kept hitting all the way to Sunday’s last scrimmage in Denver. Tony Wolters is Colorado's starting catcher. Butera is competing with Elias Díaz and Nuñez for a spot on the 30-man Opening Day roster. Butera played first base in the last two intrasquad games, which could help if manager Bud Black keeps three catchers.

Black said Monday he is still “working through those decisions,” but he praised Butera.

“Drew has really played well, I’m really happy where he is,” Black said. “He worked really hard during the shutdown. He came in here in great shape. The body is, for a guy who’s [36], really moving well. He’s got a great arm, and there’s a presence to Drew.”

Exhibition plans
Right-hander Ashton Goudeau (the Rockies' No. 26 prospect per MLB Pipeline) will start Tuesday’s 6:05 p.m. MT exhibition against the Rangers at Globe Life Field, which will air live on MLB Network. Right-hander Antonio Senzatela will start Wednesday’s 6:05 p.m. MT exhibition vs. Texas.

Fast development from Hilliard
Left-handed-hitting outfielder Sam Hilliard has a power-speed combination that plays well offensively. He homered Saturday and scored from first on a hit on Sunday in intrasquad games. But he also has developed quickly at all three outfield positions, to the point that Black is confident in his glove.

If the Rockies go with a left-handed designated hitter and want to keep Daniel Murphy at first base, both Hilliard and Raimel Tapia could get starts in the outfield. Both have been trained at all three outfield positions.

“Sam has really improved as a defender -- got to give Sam a lot of credit with his work ethic,” Black said. “Our Minor League instructors the last couple years have worked hard with Sam. We’ve seen the strides.”

Also, Black did not rule out Charlie Blackmon, who returned late last week after he had tested positive for COVID-19, starting in right field as the season begins, rather than at DH.