DENVER -- Rockies shortstop Trevor Story tested his sprained right thumb with full batting practice and fielding and throwing drills on Thursday. Story is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list on Sunday, but he and manager Bud Black said that Story may need an injury rehab assignment that would push back his timetable.
Story (.294, 17 HR, 48 RBIs) fell short as a finalist to start for the National League in next month's All-Star Game but still can be added as a reserve on Sunday (watch at 3:30 p.m. MT on ESPN). He suffered the injury on June 19 while sliding into second base at Arizona.
“Being such a competitor, I feel like I want to be in there and I want to play and help the team, but you’ve got to take a step back and realize your body needs time to heal. I just try to find different ways to be a good teammate and really focus on trying to get myself back out there.”
Black said of a Sunday return: “I don’t think that will happen -- but he’s really, really close past Sunday.”
The Rockies are off Monday, then will play a two-game home series against the Astros starting Tuesday.
Oh taking next step
Righty relief pitcher Seunghwan Oh, who hasn’t thrown since June 6 because of a left abdominal strain, will face hitters at Coors Field on Friday. Oh (3-1, 9.33 ERA in 21 games) said the injury bothered him “here and there” before he was placed on the injured list. He said that after Friday's workout, there will be a discussion of his next move.