Injuries & Moves: Updates on Beck, Bird, Rogers, Gilbreath
LATEST NEWS
July 4: 2B Adael Amador (right oblique strain; MLB Pipeline No. 47 prospect/Rockies No. 2) reinstated and optioned to Double-A Hartford
Amador, 21, had been recalled from Hartford when Brendon Rodgers went on the 10-day IL on June 9. He made his Major League debut that day and played in 10 games, hitting .171 (6-for-35) with a double, a walk, six strikeouts, and a stolen base. He went on the IL with an oblique strain on June 21.
July 4: 1B/DH Elehuris Montero outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque
Montero cleared waivers Thursday after being designated for assignment Sunday, and the Rockies outrighted him to Albuquerque. He was originally acquired as part of the Nolan Arenado trade in 2021. Montero had succeeded in lowering his strikeout rate from last year’s 36.2 percent to 24.2 percent this season, but in 247 plate appearances, he slashed .205/.267/.304 with four home runs and 28 RBIs.
“He’s a better hitter than that,” manager Bud Black said. “Step one is get hits, and we've thought if he gets hits the power will show up, because he's strong, He worked awfully hard to cut the strikeout rate down, so in the process of doing that, his swing for power was maybe compromised. Hopefully he can exhale a little bit now, go to Triple-A, and hopefully that will translate into statistical performance.”
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
OF Jordan Beck (broken left hand; Rockies No. 4 prospect)
Expected return: Mid-July
Beck has been with the Rockies since July 2 after getting his cast off a couple of weeks prior. He’ll go back to Arizona on July 7 to begin full baseball activity.
“He hit today in the cage, looked good,” manager Bud Black said. “He's doing defensive drills. When he gets clearance to really swing the bat with intensity and authority and he's game ready, then it's just a matter of him getting his repetitions and then we'll see how he does.”
Beck played in 23 games with the Rockies, hitting .190 with two homers, eight RBIs, one walk, and 30 strikeouts.
“It's going be performance based, and we'll see what's happening up here too,” Black said of the plan for Beck once he completes his rehab. (Last updated: July 6)
RHP Jake Bird (right groin strain)
Expected return: TBD
Bird was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 23, with a right groin strain prior to the Rockies’ game against the Astros on June 26. It is his second IL stint after he missed a month with right elbow tightness, returning on June 17. Bird is 1-1 with one save and a 6.26 ERA in 22 games this season.
“Bird threw [July 5],” manager Bud Black said. “He’s feeling good. He's close to getting out and getting back on the mound in competition, so we're excited about that. He feels good.” (Last updated: July 6)
LHP Josh Rogers (left rotator cuff strain)
Expected return: TBD
Rogers made five appearances with Colorado between May 27 and June 14, when he went on the injured list. Though an MRI indicated there was no extensive damage, it was not immediately clear how soon he could return to action.
“He's in Arizona, he's rehabbing,” manager Bud Black said on July 6, referring to the Rockies training facility in Scottsdale. “He's throwing, he's doing very well, progressing. I think that in the next week or two, you might see him in a Minor League rehab game. He's doing good.” (Last updated: July 6)
OF Zac Veen (low back strain; MLB Pipeline No. 83 prospect/Rockies No. 5)
Expected return: TBD
Veen, 22, has been on a rehab assignment in High-A Spokane since July 1, going 4-for-13 (.308) with a double, three RBIs, five walks, one strikeout and three stolen bases in four games. He had a hit in every game until an 0-for-4 showing on Thursday.
On Friday, Rockies manager Bud Black said Veen will “soon to go to [Double-A] Hartford,” signaling the end of his rehab.
The outfielder began his rehab with three games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League on June 25 after having previously worked out at the team’s complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. A left hand/thumb injury -- in addition to the back ailment -- slowed Veen’s progress. Veen was off to a solid start at Hartford to begin the year, slashing .326/.418/.568 across 28 games. (Last updated: July 5)
INF/OF Kris Bryant (left rib contusion, oblique strain)
Expected return: TBD
Bryant continues working in the batting cage and ramping up baseball activity.
“He's got a little bit more intensity today,” Rockies manager Bud Black said Tuesday. “More volume, running, throwing, took some grounders here with [infield coach Warren Schaefer], [hit] inside in the cage. He's doing better. He's feeling good. No timetable.
“Bryant’s our best player when he's healthy. We want to get him back." (Last updated: July 2)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Lucas Gilbreath (Tommy John surgery, shoulder discomfort)
Expected return: TBD
Gilbreath’s has recovered from a shoulder issue that slowed his return from Tommy John surgery. He threw a third side session July 6, and he appears to be back on track after initial pre-shoulder projections that he could be ready by May.
“[His side] went great, he threw all his pitches,” manager Bud Black said. “He's headed to Arizona [July 7]. He's going to start to face hitters. He'll be in some games within a week in Arizona, and then probably we’ll jump him up a level. He's getting closer. He was really close, and then the shoulder strain, but the elbow hasn't been an issue. We just got to get him conditioned for games.” (Last updated: July 6)
RHP Germán Márquez (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Around midseason
Márquez made his sixth rehab start Thursday, his second with Double-A Hartford. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out two over 3 2/3 innings. He reached 99 mph on his fastball.
“Germán came out of that fine,” Rockies manager Bud Black said on July 5 prior to the series opener against the Royals. “He threw [69] pitches. He's healthy, feels good. We've texted this afternoon, and he feels good.”
Márquez is scheduled to pitch again on July 9, and Black indicated that he would more than likely make that start in Hartford. If all goes well, Márquez would be in a good position, both physically and geographically, to join the Rockies in New York as soon as July 14 against the Mets. (Last updated: July 5)
RHP Antonio Senzatela (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly late this season
Senzatela threw a bullpen session on July 2 and began mixing in more of his pitches as part of his progression.
“He's throwing breaking balls,” manager Bud Black said of Senzatela. “Today's the first day that he's spinning the ball. It was fastball, changeup, so that's another step. The next step after this is probably another bullpen or two throwing all his pitches and then he'll face some hitters. I don't know the exact timeline, but he'll be facing our hitters in a simulated-type situation on the field without a protective screen. That might happen on that road trip, we'll see. But he's doing great.”
Black added that a September return was “reasonable.” (Last updated: July 2)
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)