Injuries & Moves: Bryant takes full batting practice
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Sept. 4: OF/1B Kris Bryant takes full batting practice for the first time since sustaining fractured left index finger
Bryant’s splint kept getting dislodged during his first round, so he took it off, kept the finger off the bat and completed the session with no problems. Bryant’s first hitting activity on a Major League field since he was hit with a pitch on July 22 ended with a shot off the center-field wall.
“I felt pretty rusty, but I expected that -- it’ll only get better from here on out,” said Bryant, who hopes to return Sept. 11 against the Cubs. “Good first day on the field, and hopefully it continues to trend this way.
“Hopefully, another couple days of that, maybe some machine work, and then re-evaluate. If I get a couple singers [from the added velocity of the machine], I’ll see if I’m fine. Obviously, you don’t want that to happen, but in the game, you’re going to have that situation sometimes.”
Bryant signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the Rockies before last season, but he has spent most of that time nursing various injuries. He is taking inspiration from veteran Charlie Blackmon, who missed time with a fractured right hand but had a slash line of .369/.481/.554 in 18 games since returning going into Sept. 4.
“That’d be great -- look what Chuck’s been doing,” Bryant said. “He’s on a heater right now. Of course I’d like that, but the biggest thing is getting back out there, seeing pitches, getting some hits and hanging out with the guys to build on some of the things we’ve got going here.”
Sept. 4: RHP Nick Mears recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque; RHP Tommy Doyle optioned
The Rockies have struggled to hold leads of late, so Mears -- who is making his third trip to the Majors -- gets another chance. His numbers in brief Major League action this season have been solid (2.57 ERA in five games), but he has dealt twice with oblique injuries.
With Albuquerque, Mears is 4-1 with one save, a 6.08 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings.
Sept. 4: 1B/OF Michael Toglia to be optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque
Something eventually had to happen with a first-base type, especially after Hunter Goodman made an impact immediately upon his callup. It was Toglia, who slashed .161/.220/.297 with four doubles, four home runs, nine RBIs, eight walks and 41 strikeouts in 35 games since his last recall on July 14. It was his third stint on the active roster this season.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
RHP Daniel Bard (right forearm fatigue)
Expected return: TBD
Bard was placed on the 15-day IL following another rough outing on Sept. 1, when he surrendered three runs in the ninth inning of the Rockies’ 13-9 loss to the Blue Jays. In his previous outing, he gave up five runs (four earned) in the ninth inning of Colorado’s 14-4 loss to Atlanta on Aug. 28. Overall, Bard has had a difficult season, particularly with his control -- he has a walks-per-nine-innings rate of 8.8, along with a 4.70 ERA after posting a 1.79 ERA in 57 appearances in 2022. (Last updated: Sept. 3)
OF/DH Kris Bryant (fractured left index finger)
Expected return: Before the end of the 2023 season
On Sept. 2, Bryant said he’s hopeful that by the Rockies’ next road trip, he would be ready to start taking full batting practice on the field. And that, if all goes well, he could be back in the lineup by the club’s next homestand, which begins on Sept. 11 against the Cubs.
Bryant received a semblance of good news from the results of his X-rays on Aug. 28. He said the fracture had been showing up fully across the finger bone, but that it’s just on the edges now. (Last updated: Sept. 2)
60-day IL
RHP Ryan Feltner (skull fracture)
Expected return: TBD
Feltner took a major step toward a return to the mound this season when he made a rehab appearance with High-A Spokane on Sept. 1. He was sharp over three innings, giving up one run on three hits, walking none and striking out three on 36 pitches (23 strikes).
If Feltner is able to progress without setbacks, he will be well-positioned to pitch in the Majors again before the end of the season. (Last updated: Sept. 2)
LHP Lucas Gilbreath (left elbow)
Expected return: Out for the season
A return this season is not in the cards for Gilbreath, who underwent surgery in early March, but he is playing catch and throwing out to 90 feet as he continues to meet rehab benchmarks. (Last updated: July 29)
RHP Antonio Senzatela (right elbow sprain)
Expected return: 2024
Senzatela resumed throwing during the final road trip before the All-Star break, but a July 8 bullpen session went poorly. On July 14, manager Bud Black announced that Senzatela will have Tommy John surgery. (Last updated: July 14)
RHP Germán Márquez (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Mid-2024
The Rockies transferred Márquez to the 60-day injured list on May 19. The surgery was performed on May 12 by Dr. Thomas J. Noonan, the club's medical director. Márquez, 28, made four starts this season and went 2-2 with a 4.95 ERA. (Last updated: May 12)