Rodgers' return to Rockies starting slow but steady

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers knew a left hamstring strain he suffered a couple weeks ago in St. Louis was going to keep him out of the lineup, but he was relieved that it had nothing to do with his hands.

“I took two days off from hitting – the two days initially after the injury,” Rodgers said. “After that, I hit every day. My goal was to continue my routine and try to stay as locked down as I could. I hit off the machine and did flips, and on the field took batting practice just about every day to keep the timing and the rhythm.”

It was a rhythm worth keeping. As has been his recent pattern, Rodgers struggled early – .225 through May 1. But from May 2 to June 7, the day he was injured, Rodgers batted .310. The hitting and the extra-base hits increased in the final days before the injury.

Swinging the bat while his leg healed was the right move.

Rodgers doubled for Triple-A Albuquerque at Oklahoma City on Thursday in his only injury rehab game. Rodgers had doubled five times in the seven MLB games before he was hurt.

In two games back with the Rockies, Rodgers is 3-for-8, with a three-run homer in Saturday’s 8-7 victory over the Nationals and two of the club’s five hits in Sunday’s 2-1 loss.

The homer, Rodgers’ third of the season, went to just left of straightaway center against Nationals left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker.

In Rodgers’ first two games back in the lineup, Rodgers hit in the cleanup spot – reminiscent of manager Bud Black’s plan going into the season. It didn’t work then. Not only did Rodgers start slowly, but projected leadoff man Charlie Blackmon dipping dramatically after mid April, and No. 2 hitter Kris Bryant and No. 3 hitter Nolan Jones struggled before sustaining back injuries. Jones has returned and shown progress hitting lower in the order.

Black said the Rockies have been discussing several lineup constructions, with Blackmon out with a right hamstring injury. It’s not clear if Rodgers will stay in the fourth spot. But the idea of Rodgers being more of a line-mover than a traditional cleanup man intrigues Black.

“I like his ability to put the ball in play with guys in scoring position in a lot of ways,” Black said. “Driving in runs is a knack and I think he has that ability. It’s something we’ve talked about as a coaching staff.”

As long as the current structure is in place, Rodgers enjoys the potential for RBIs hitting behind Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon. He feels comfortable with his current swing, rather than attempting to hit home runs. It’s a swing that should play no matter Rodgers' batting order spot.