TUCSON — Bob McClure never threw a pitch for the Rockies. But the one he made to Miguel Olivo is largely responsible for the catcher signing with Colorado this winter.
“I owe so much to him. He told me if I ever had a chance to come here, I should take it,” Olivo said Thursday after a workout at Hi Corbett Field. “Of course I listened to him.”
Olivo spent the past two seasons in Kansas City, where McClure is the pitching coach, a job he previously held for years in Triple-A Colorado Springs. It was under McClure that Olivo blossomed into a more complete player. Known as a guy who only cared about his swing, Olivo studied videotapes and scouting reports extensively, an exercise demanded by McClure.
“The thing about Miguel is that he can be as good as he wants to be defensively,” McClure said. “He’s a good kid with a lot of passion for the game.”
And Olivo likes to win. That’s why he said he turned down more money from two other unnamed suitors to take a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $2.5 million from the Rockies.
“This is a team that should be thinking not of the playoffs, but winning the World Series,” Olivo said. “There’s a lot of talent here, and from what I have seen and heard, the guys really like each other and pull for another.”
Olivo, 31, is on his sixth team since 2002. His statistics make his movement mysterious. There aren’t many catchers with his power or physique, a chiseled 230 pounds. Only American League MVP Joe Mauer had more home runs among catchers last season than Olivo, who hit 23 in 390 at-bats. His reputation as an offensive-minded player has hurt him, though the strong- armed veteran has thrown out base-runners at an impressive 34 percent rate in his career.
“I always worked on my hitting more before the last two years. I learned from McClure that I need to spend more time with the pitchers,” Olivo said. “I have a better understanding of pitches and situations. I don’t make the mistakes I used to.”
Olivo arrives in camp with no guarantees other than a roster spot. He will battle Chris Iannetta for the starting job. Manager Jim Tracy believes the competition will make both of them better — as does reliever Rafael Betancourt, who faced Olivo frequently in the American League.
“Miguel is very good. He has a good arm, good power. He’s a guy who’s going to help Chris and help the ballclub,” Betancourt said.
Olivo, who played 114 games last season, said there will be no animosity. He sees Iannetta as his partner, not his rival.
“My team is like my family, because in baseball you spend more time with your teammates than your family. I am going to cheer for him no matter what happens,” Olivo said. “We will have a good relationship. We aren’t thinking about playing time right now. It’s about doing what we have to do to win games. That’s the only thing on my mind.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
