This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The Rockies acquired righty Connor Seabold from the Red Sox on Jan. 17 for cash considerations or a player to be named.

Seabold, who turned 27 on Tuesday, became a prospect at Newport Harbor (Calif.) High School and Cal State Fullerton before the Phillies selected him in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft. As it turns out, Seabold has experience at Coors Field, thanks to his entrepreneur mother and graphic designer father.

“I’m from California, born and raised, but for a five-year period, I lived in Castle Rock,” Seabold said. “And I went to my fair share of Rockies games. I actually went to Game 163 [the 13-inning epic win over the Padres in 2007] where they went to the playoffs. I remember that was one of the crazier games I’ve ever witnessed, let alone been at. Obviously, it’s been a while since I’ve been to a game at Coors, but going off that, it gets rowdy there.

“We moved out there when I was in about fifth grade, and we moved back after my sophomore year of high school at Castle View, so I spent my first two years at Castle View.”

So, does that give him an advantage once he receives his chance in the Rockies’ rotation? He’s not counting on it.

“I don’t remember anything about how I pitched or what my pitches were like, and I’m sure they’ve changed since then,” Seabold said. “I’m just looking forward to getting back there. I remember Denver being awesome, and I’m hoping to get the opportunity to get there and stay for a while -- if not for the whole season. We’ll see. I’ve got to earn a spot. It’s not going to be given to me.”

Seabold has a 10.55 ERA in minimal big league time -- six appearances for the Red Sox in 2021-22. But his 8-2 and 3.32 ERA performance at Triple-A Worcester last year, and his 356 strikeouts in 343 Minor League innings, point toward potential. And his experience with two trades in his career tell him it takes more than potential.

“I got dealt [to Boston] in a year when the Red Sox weren’t playing very well, and a part of me was thinking, ‘This is going to be a sure thing,’ that I was going to be pitching the year that I got dealt,” he said. “It doesn’t work out that way. You’ve still got to earn it. You’ve still got to pitch to the best of your ability and show you can pitch in the big leagues. It’s not going to fall into our lap, and I’m not expecting anything to fall into my lap after this trade either.”