Injuries & Moves: Freeland, Bryant sidelined
LATEST NEWS
April 19: LHP Kyle Freeland (left elbow strain) placed on the 15-day IL; RHP Noah Davis recalled from Triple-A
Freeland sustained the injury late in his start on Sunday against Toronto. The hope is that rest and a proper rehab stint will avoid further damage. Davis, who has seen stints with the club the past two seasons, was 0-2 with a 6.62 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings over four starts at Albuquerque. Davis will pitch in long relief, and righty Peter Lambert will move from the bullpen to the rotation.
April 17: Recalled OF Sean Bouchard from Triple-A Albuquerque; placed INF/OF Kris Bryant on 10-day IL (retroactive to April 14) with low back strain
Bryant was gradually improving from an injury he sustained when crashing into the right-field wall in Toronto on Saturday, but a lack of steady progress led the club -- which also faced the prospect of playing with a short roster for multiple games -- to place him on the injured list. Bryant, hitting .149 with one homer through 13 games this year, has missed considerable time since signing a seven-year contract before the 2022 season.
The righty-hitting Bouchard is up for his first stint with the Rockies this year after slashing .304/.429/.563 across 112 at-bats from 2022-23.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Kyle Freeland (left elbow strain)
Expected return: In a month to six weeks
Freeland and manager Bud Black said it's their understanding that there was no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow, so Freeland should be able to recover with rest, exercise and a Minor League rehab assignment. Freeland said his injury occurred during his April 14 start in Toronto. (Last updated: April 19)
1B Kris Bryant (low back strain)
Expected return: TBD
Bryant was gradually improving from an injury he sustained when he crashed into the right-field wall in Toronto on April 13, but a lack of steady progress led the club -- which also faced the prospect of playing with a short roster for multiple games -- to place him on the injured list. Bryant, hitting .149 with one homer through 13 games this year, has missed considerable time since signing a seven-year contract before the 2022 season. (Last updated: April 19)
LHP Lucas Gilbreath (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Late April
Gilbreath threw one inning of a game in extended Spring Training on April 17, reporting no issues with his elbow. He'll throw another inning on April 19, after which the Rockies will determine if he's ready to move his rehab to Triple-A Albuquerque.
"First time against another team, which is a big step," manager Bud Black said. "He bounced back from yesterday's outing, felt good today." (Last updated: April 17)
RHP Daniel Bard (right forearm)
Expected return: 2025
Bard, who tore the meniscus in his left knee while playing catch prior to Spring Training and underwent surgery, had a setback rehabbing and will undergo season-ending surgery on his right arm.
The 38-year-old made three trips to the injured list last season, the final two of which were due to right forearm issues in September, and he finished with only one save -- after racking up 54 saves over the previous two years. At season’s end, Bard underwent three platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, spaced one week apart.
The PRP injections in Bard’s elbow delayed his offseason throwing program until January. He had progressed to long toss at 120 feet before the freak injury occurred. Read more > (Last updated: April 12)
60-day IL
RHP Germán Márquez (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Around midseason
Márquez's live batting practice on April 3 went well, according to the Rockies, and he is scheduled for another this week. The team is taking it step by step, with three weeks of activity and one week of rest, and Márquez's arm is responding. (Last updated: April 7)
RHP Antonio Senzatela (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: TBD
Senzatela was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 28, and his status for the season is unclear following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last July. (Last updated: Feb. 28)