Injuries & Moves: Latest on Márquez, Bird, Rodgers
LATEST NEWS
June 16: CF Brenton Doyle scratched with left patellar tendinitis
The injury was not considered serious, but the team decided to rest Doyle on Saturday out of precaution and he did not return to the starting lineup on Sunday.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Germán Márquez (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Around midseason
In his second injury rehab start but first at a full-season affiliate (the previous was in the Arizona Complex League), Márquez threw 52 pitches, including 36 strikes, in 2 1/3 innings for Single-A Fresno against Rancho Cucamonga. He struck out five, including three of the first four batters in the first, but gave up six hits -- which included two doubles and two home runs. Reports said Márquez ranged 94-97 mph on his fastball, which he used almost exclusively. He left a mistake slider over the plate but otherwise the few other sliders and secondary pitches were solid. (Last updated: June 16)
RHP Jake Bird (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: June
Bird so sparkled in his second injury rehab game -- a clean inning with one strikeout and strikes on six of his nine pitches for Triple-A Albuquerque against El Paso on June 15 -- that the Rockies were talking about activating him for this week’s series against the Dodgers. His first outing with the Isotopes, Bird threw strikes on just seven of his 16 pitches. But it appears he has found his way back to the strike zone. Getting him to execute pitches was as big a reason for his IL stint as resting a sore elbow (Last updated: June 16)
2B Brendan Rodgers (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: TBD
A day after taking grounders hit straight at him, Rodgers moved laterally during fielding drills. He also did repeated defensive movements to test the strength and flexibility of the hamstring. Rodgers finished by running home to first at medium intensity. Rodgers, who will do more pregame drills on June 17, and the Rockies are leaning toward a brief Minor League rehab assignment. (Last updated: June 16)
OF Sean Bouchard (right ankle sprain)
Due back: TBD
Bouchard, who sustained the injury on June 5 in a collision at first base, did home-to-first runs at half speed to build confidence in running and hitting the bag. Bouchard also participated in fielding drills. The Rockies are leaning toward sending him on an injury rehab assignment when he is cleared. More running drills are scheduled for June 17. (Last updated: June 16)
C Elias Díaz (left calf strain)
Expected return: TBD
Injured on June 10, Díaz is moving without a limp, but he has not resumed running. (Last updated: June 16)
INF/OF Kris Bryant (left rib contusion, oblique strain)
Expected return: TBD
Bryant, who sustained the injury while making a catch against the wall in foul ground at Dodger Stadium on June 2, revealed on June 15 that an MRI showed a left internal oblique strain in addition to the contusion. Frustrated, Bryant said recovering times vary, and he doesn’t know how long it will take.
“There’s a variety of different recovery times, and mine is the internal oblique -- I don’t know if that makes a difference,” said Bryant, who has been on the IL twice this year. “They told me they’ve had guys come back super-quick, guys that take forever, guys that get injections. I don't know. It just sucks. Like, I’m trying to put a smile on my face and be positive and this and that, but the last week has been pretty frustrating for me. When the team was out of town, I was sitting on my couch, watching the games and researching how to get better -- buying all sorts of things on the internet.” (Last updated: June 16)
RHP Justin Lawrence (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: June
Lawrence, who has been working on returning his arm slot to the lower plane than it was when he went on a successful run last year, had a rough first injury rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque on June 14 -- two runs on three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning.
“What you do is look and say, 'OK, but did I execute my pitches?'” Lawrence said. “You can’t be results-oriented. As long as your process is right, the success will happen more times than not.” (Last updated: June 15)
OF Jordan Beck (broken left hand, Rockies No. 4 prospect)
Expected return: Late June or early July
Beck was called up on April 30 for his Major League debut, and he was going through the ups and downs of being a rookie before sustaining a broken left hand while making a diving catch on May 25. Dr. Donald Sheridan performed surgery on May 29 to insert a plate in the hand to aid in healing. Manager Bud Black gave a timeline of 4-6 weeks. (Last updated: May 29)
60-DAY IL
LHP Kyle Freeland (left elbow strain)
Expected return: Mid-to-late June
Freeland was efficient in his June 13 injury rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque. Scheduled for three innings/50 pitches, Freeland made it through four innings on 48 pitches, with four strikeouts, three hits and one run allowed. Pitching coach Darryl Scott said having the electronic strike zone helped Freeland -- who will pitch on June 18 at Oklahoma City -- keep pitches on the plate. (Last updated: June 14)
RHP Germán Márquez (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Around midseason
Manager Bud Black said on June 14 that Márquez has joined Single-A Fresno and “will pitch for that club in a couple of days, so we’re excited about that.” (Last updated: June 14)
LHP Lucas Gilbreath (Tommy John surgery, shoulder discomfort)
Expected return: TBD
Gilbreath threw two bullpen sessions during the team’s road trip to St. Louis and Minnesota, and expects to throw one soon at Coors Field before the club determines the next step. (Last updated: June 14)
RHP Antonio Senzatela (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: TBD
Senzatela has entered the stage of “touch-and-feel” bullpen sessions but according to manager Bud Black is “still a ways away.” But with a smooth recovery, Senzatela and the Rockies believe he can make some Major League appearances this year. (Last updated: June 14)
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 had season-ending surgery on his right arm on May 1. The Rockies placed him on the 60-day IL to add left-hander Ty Blach to the active roster.
Bard, 38, is in the final year of a two-year, $19 million contract. Bard has said he would like to return after a year of rehab, but he will see how he feels and consult his family before committing to pitching again. Read more >> (Last updated: May 1)