Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new fan favorite in Colorado. Troy Johnston has joined the club of Charlie Blackmon, Connor Joe, Jake Cave, and others. Johnston arrived quietly enough as an offseason addition in November 2025, following the Miami Marlins releasing him. Johnston parlayed a strong spring in which he posted a 1.027 OPS into a spot on the Rockies’ Opening Day roster. Now that we have gotten 20 games of Johnston in a Rockies uniform, he is the undisputed fan favorite of the 2026 Rockies.
Troy Johnston Is Quickly Becoming a Fan Favorite
The vibes were already destined to be immaculate on Sunday, April 19. The Denver Nuggets won game one in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The Colorado Avalanche were in the process of taking down the Los Angeles Kings in game one of their respective postseason series, and the Rockies were looking to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers for a second consecutive game. Following a 4-3 win the previous night, the Rockies would be the first team to do this to the Dodgers in 2026.
The Rockies were given some extra motivation as well when Dodgers’ catcher Dalton Rushing, in a postgame interview Saturday night, found it “fishy” that the Rockies were swinging on so many first-pitches in Saturday’s 4-3 Rockies win. Let’s just say the Rockies players and social media account had a field day with this in Sunday’s 9-6 Rockies’ win.
Gone Fishin’ 🎣 pic.twitter.com/zxGIs0G6pt
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 19, 2026
There’s more, don’t worry.
First pitch swinging 😏 https://t.co/riDkKLjg2y pic.twitter.com/lMyCMWuUNU
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 19, 2026
The Rockies also became the first National League team to beat the Dodgers this season. If you had that on your bingo card, get to your nearest gas station and buy a lotto ticket immediately. You could argue that Johnston was the MVP of this series. The Rockies very likely would not have won both of these games without Johnston’s efforts.
MVP
Johnston has been far and away the best Rockie at home this season. In 38 home at-bats, Johnston is hitting .368/.415/.579 with a stellar .994 OPS. Additionally, he has posted five doubles, six runs, one home run, and six RBI at Coors this season. The type of production a Rockies’ offense that has struggled to score with RISP sorely needs. But two of his best games of the season came against the boys in Blue over the weekend. In both wins over the Dodgers, Johnston went 5-7 with three doubles and two RBI. One of the doubles and both RBI came in the bottom of the sixth on Saturday to score Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman, giving the Rockies the go-ahead 4-3 lead.
TROY JOHNSTON. pic.twitter.com/5351Tk0j11
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 19, 2026
But the encore the following day was just as impressive and important. There’s a reason the Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champs and haven’t lost a single game against the NL coming into the Rockies series. They have weapons all over their lineup, and their roster is brimming with elite talent. The Rockies gave themselves a needed cushion with a three-run eighth to extend their lead to 9-4. But the Dodgers were not going to go down that easily.
Victor Vodnik has been as lights out as any Rockies’ reliever in a strong Rockies bullpen. But the top of the Dodgers’ order did their thing, starting with a Shohei Ohtani ground-rule double. Vodnik struck out Kyle Tucker before Ohtani went to third on a wild pitch. Will Smith and Max Muncy reached on consecutive singles before Andy Pages walked to load the bases. Rushing of all people then represented the tying run at the plate. He hit into a fielder’s choice to second, leaving the Dodgers with another chance to tie the game with one swing. This is where Johnston comes in.
Ryan Ward hit a liner to right field, which, if missed, scores both runners with Ward at second. But Johnston finished the great weekend for the Rockies with a statement and made a great diving catch to clinch the Rockies’ win.
Clutch Troy 😤 pic.twitter.com/ei0B1ExS4C
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 19, 2026
More Than a Feel-Good Story
The vibes Johnston brings to the Rockies are essential for a clubhouse going through the ups and downs of an MLB season. But he has also been invaluable to the Rockies on the field this season. Among Rockies with at least 40 at-bats, his 133 WRC+ ranks second on the Rockies, behind only Mickey Moniak (145). Per Statcast, he ranks in the 94th percentile with a 44.2 LA-Sweet Spot% and 36.5 squared-up%. He has also brought much-needed defensive improvement to the Rockies’ outfield. The Rockies’ right fielder by value was tied for the worst position defensively in the MLB last season, per Fielding Bible. Currently getting paid $820K, Johnston is one of the best bargains in the league. On top of his on-field production, he is one of the easiest guys in the league to root for.
Easy To Root For
Johnston immediately popped up with the trademark smile that Rockies fans have grown accustomed to. The previous night, he could not contain his laughter and joy in a postgame interview with the Rockies.TV reporter, Ryan Spilborghs. Johnston talked about how much fun they are having this season, while reflecting on how far he has come in his baseball journey as a round 17 pick by the Marlins in 2019 out of Gonzaga University, who has 2384 minor league at-bats to his name. Johnston beamed when Spilborghs asked about Johnston shouting out his wife with a happy birthday message on the Rockies’ jumbotron earlier in the game. His personality showed through the TV as a sold-out crowd at Coors Field celebrated the massive Rockies’ win.
This has already been a much more fun season than last year. At this point last season, the Rockies were 4-17. With a 2-13 record against the NL and a 0-6 record against the NL West. They did not get their ninth win until May 23, when they were 9-42! They didn’t get consecutive wins at Coors Field until July 18-19 against the Minnesota Twins. This year, the Rockies are already 6-4 at home with a sweep over the Houston Astros and a series split in a four-game series with the Dodgers.
But players like Johnston make a season even more enjoyable as the marathon that is a 162-game season continues. He and the Rockies will look to get revenge on the San Diego Padres in a three-game series at Coors starting on Tuesday, April 21. The 15-7 Padres have won 10-11 and recently swept the Rockies in a four-game series at Petco Park. Expect some fireworks at Coors.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
