Rockies left-handed reliever Lucas Gilbreath, a product of Legacy High School in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, Colo., was taken aback by the financial commitment it takes to develop a baseball player.

“These bats and the gloves and everything nowadays just to get these kids to play in the game, it’s crazy compared to when I was playing,” Gilbreath said.

The sticker shock hasn’t dissuaded Gilbreath from being involved in the next generation of players. Gilbreath is co-founder and one of the coaches for VTool Elite Development, which trains some of the best young baseball (and hockey) talent. In January, he will become executive director of the Colorado Ball Players Academy, which will field baseball and softball teams in various age groups out of the same training center as VTool.

In connection to all that, Gilbreath is involved in efforts to make sure those who want to play aren’t priced out of the services he’s bringing.

Gilbreath has become a frequent and enthusiastic volunteer for A Precious Child -- a Broomfield-based non-profit that serves multiple Denver-area communities in various aspects. Sports are only part of what A Precious Child offers in eight Denver-area counties. According to the organization’s website, 250,000 children in the area are living below the Colorado self-sufficiency standard.

The organization attacks socioeconomic inequalities with what it calls a “cradle to career” approach. Sports opportunities are part of that, through donations of equipment and time. Gilbreath is all-in on that and other initiatives.

Last month, Gilbreath conducted his first GiveSports Camp at Regis University in Denver, with players from the collegiate team helping to organize and equipment companies donating equipment for young baseball and softball players.

Before dedicating himself to baseball, Gilbreath made a local name for himself as a youth hockey player. He feels fortunate to have given full effort to two expensive sports, and feels everyone should have the same chance.

“A lot of kids don’t exactly have that opportunity, especially with how expensive everything is getting,” Gilbreath said. “The barrier to entry into a lot of these sports is so hard to overcome. It’s awesome to see groups like this helping these kids out and giving them opportunities.

“A lot of times, they don’t get to play until high school [where equipment costs are defrayed by schools or boosters], and it’s really hard to make a team if you’ve never played before. Giving kids that opportunity really hits home with me.”

Gilbreath doesn’t limit his involvement to sports. He is participating in A Precious Gift’s current holiday drive, which began Nov. 6 and will run through Dec. 8. Anyone may sponsor a child by visiting the organization’s website. Gilbreath will be a presence at various events.

“They collect gifts from people all around the area and have volunteers help wrap them and make them look really fancy,” Gilbreath said. “Then they have people like me, Rocky -- the Nuggets’ mascot -- and support from the other sports teams to help hand out the gifts and make it special for the kids and kind of give them something on this holiday season.”

Gilbreath also wants to help youngsters develop beyond the baseball or softball fields. Gilbreath is celebrity ambassador for A Precious Child’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program. He and his wife, Kelsey, helped put together 1,200 STEM kits, which were filled with age-appropriate activities.

“I was an engineering major in college [at the University of Minnesota], and I love it,” Gilbreath said. “I think a kit that I put together was a catapult. That was fun for me. They donate them to different after-school programs or different kids that might be interested."

Gilbreath underwent Tommy John surgery before the 2023 season. But in 2022, Gilbreath established himself as a key member of the Rockies’ bullpen by putting together a 21-game surge (May 30-July 22) during which he gave up just one earned run, struck out 27 against 10 walks and allowed only 16 hits. Anything approaching that will be a boon to the Rockies, who also claimed lefty Jalen Beeks off waivers from the Rays on Nov. 6. Beeks struggled in 2023 (5.95 ERA in 30 games), but was effective in ’22 (2.80 ERA in 42 games).

At times in ’22, Gilbreath was the bullpen’s only lefty, so having Beeks could take the load off him. The club also is exploring re-signing Brent Suter, the main lefty last season.

To prepare himself for 2024, Gilbreath -- injured early in Spring Training in ’23 -- threw bullpen sessions before the ’23 season ended and continued his work into the offseason. After a break, he resumed throwing on Monday.

That would be just 11 more votes than last year for the Rockies’ beloved No. 17, first baseman Todd Helton, to be selected for the 2024 Hall of Fame class. Ballots have been sent to Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters. Helton, who played for the Rockies 1997-2013, has quite the case.

In newsletters between now and the Jan. 23 announcement on MLB Network, we’ll outline Helton’s credentials.

Let’s compare Helton’s career statistics to those of 2024 candidates in various categories:

Batting average
Todd Helton, .316
Manny Ramirez, .312
Joe Mauer, .306
Matt Holliday, .299
David Wright, .296

On-base percentage
Todd Helton, .414
Manny Ramirez, .411
Bobby Abreu, .395
Gary Sheffield, .393
Joe Mauer, .388

Slugging percentage
Manny Ramirez, .585
Alex Rodriguez, .550
Todd Helton, .539
Gary Sheffield, .514
Matt Holliday, .510

OPS+
Manny Ramirez, 154
Alex Rodriguez, 140
Gary Sheffield, 140
Todd Helton, 133
David Wright, 133

Walks
Bobby Abreu, 1,476
Gary Sheffield, 1,475
Alex Rodriguez, 1,338
Todd Helton, 1,335
Manny Ramirez, 1,329

After being limited to 21 games (43 plate appearances) with the Rockies because of a left biceps tear sustained in Spring Training, Sean Bouchard is searching for his swing while playing winter ball for Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League. Bouchard’s plate discipline in 2022 (.454 on-base percentage, .954 OPS in his first 27 MLB games) had him in line for significant playing time before the injury. In his brief return with the Rockies, he homered four times in 43 plate appearances. However, in Mexico, Bouchard is hitting .154 (14-for-91) in 26 games for Hermosillo.

When he connects, it’s forceful -- four home runs and four doubles. Bouchard, 27, went into the winter understanding that he had to build enough at-bats to feel confident with his timing. He expected the pitching strategies in Mexico to be a challenge.

“In the big leagues, there’s a lot more velocity, but this is a good challenge, too,” Bouchard said in an interview on the Naranjeros de Hermosillo YouTube channel. “It’s a lot of offspeed -- curveball, changeup, cutter -- and, obviously, fastballs, as well. There are a lot of good pitchers, a lot of good players. It will be a good winter.”

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