Colvin confident that he belongs in big leagues

DENVER -- The Rockies' left-handed-hitting Tyler Colvin felt he belonged in the Majors, even when he struggled mightily with his swing during Spring Training, and especially when the club sent him to Triple-A Colorado Springs to start the year. He never lost the feeling when he was passed over for a callup several times.

Colvin confirmed his belief during Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Padres. Colvin drove in a run with a productive groundout. But it was hit final at-bat -- a line drive that Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko snagged, preventing a possible two-run single -- that let him know for sure.

"You can't ask for anything more than to have the tying run on second base in your second at-bat back up," said Colvin, who plays all three outfield positions and first base. "I hit something hard, and I was like, 'This is where I'm supposed to be.'"

The demotion was jarring. Colvin batted .290 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs last season, his first with the Rockies after being acquired in a December 2011 trade with the Cubs. During the offseason, he avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $2.28 million contract. But he hit .167 with two doubles this spring and found himself in Triple-A.

Colvin hit .293 with nine home runs, eight doubles, four triples and 29 RBIs in 55 games at Colorado Springs.

"In everyone's career, they realize this is a business, and that was one of those times," Colvin said. "I was a little upset, obviously. Who wouldn't be? But once you realize this is a business, you've got to go out there and play and wait your turn.

"Honestly, it didn't take my swing long at all. Once I started playing games, there it was. A couple of times, I tried a couple of things that didn't work out. Besides that, it was just all timing."