SAN FRANCISCO – Maybe you can get a second chance to make a first impression.
When the Rockies recalled rookie slugger Zac Veen from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier this week, they were bringing back a player who was raking in the Minors after making some significant lifestyle changes regarding substance abuse in hopes of making it back to the bigs.
Veen, Colorado’s No. 11 prospect per MLB Pipeline, promptly crushed a homer in Arizona in his first game back, immediately rewarding the club’s decision.
He doubled up on Friday with another homer, a 406-foot rocket off Giants right-hander Landen Roupp that sailed into McCovey Cove as Veen left the batter’s box with a skip and flipped his bat toward the dugout in excitement. The blast highlighted the Rockies' 5-2 win in the series opener, their third straight victory overall.
Notably, both of Veen’s homers since being called up have landed in bodies of water, with Wednesday’s landing in the pool at Chase Field and Friday’s sailing into the Cove.
It was the fifth Splash Hit struck by a Rockie in San Francisco since the park opened in 2000, Veen joining a select group including Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson and Carlos Gonzalez (twice). It was also the 69th slugged by an opposing batter overall in the history of the ballpark.
Colorado’s win was also made possible by a quality start from lefty Kyle Freeland.
Making his 30th career start against the Giants – his most versus any opponent – Freeland held San Francisco to four hits and one run in eight innings, striking out two on 95 pitches.