Morneau takes on-field BP, grounders at first

DENVER -- Injured Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau took on-field batting practice on Friday for the first time since suffering a concussion and cervical neck sprain in mid-May.

"It felt like the first day of Spring Training, where it looks like everybody is throwing 120 [mph]," Morneau said. "But hopefully -- just like it does in Spring Training -- everything comes back.

"My swing feels decent. It's one of those things that if I was younger and didn't have as many reps under my belt, as many at-bats, [it would be more difficult.] I've grown to know what my swing is, what I do well. When it's not right, I think I have the ability to get back to it a little quicker than I did earlier in my career."

Morneau also did some jogging and took grounders at first base, adding that he'll go through his "regular baseball routine" this homestand before determining a next step.

Worth noting:

• With Eddie Butler demoted, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said that David Hale will "most likely" take Butler's spot in the rotation on Wednesday. Hale suffered a mild left groin strain on July 9 and has since made three rehab starts with Triple-A Albuquerque.

"It only hurt a little bit after throwing," Hale said. "Right after it happened, it only hurt for a few days throwing. But after that, it was perfectly fine. It was more like getting up to speed, cutting, baserunning, all that stuff."