Injuries & Moves: Peralta joins bullpen; Veen promoted to Triple-A
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Aug. 23: LHP Luis Peralta selected from Triple-A Albuquerque; RHP Tanner Gordon optioned to Albuquerque; RHP Germán Márquez transferred to the 60-day injured list
Obtained from the Pirates for left-hander Jalen Beeks a day before the July 30 Trade Deadline, Peralta has been lights out, allowing six runs (five earned) in 47 2/3 innings (a 0.94 ERA) with 75 strikeouts for four Minor League teams across three levels. Peralta is expected to pitch in high-leverage situations for Colorado.
Gordon was hit hard in his last start against the Nationals on Aug. 21, allowing five runs in four innings. In seven starts for Colorado, Gordon is 0-5 with a 7.55 ERA.
Márquez, who made his season debut on July 14 against the Mets after undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, has been shut down from baseball activities due to a stress reaction in his right elbow.
Aug. 23: OF Zac Veen (Rockies No. 4 prospect, No. 92 overall) activated off Minor League disabled list, promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque
A stop-start season for Veen due to shoulder and thumb injuries has culminated in a promotion that puts Colorado’s 2020 first-round Draft pick one step from the big leagues. The 22-year-old Veen returns off the injured list due to a right thumb issue and will immediately get his first taste of Triple-A.
Long regarded as a plus basestealing threat due to his baseball instincts, Veen has gone 15-for-18 on the basepaths across 44 games this year. His numbers improved upon repeating Double-A, where he notched an .816 OPS and saw 35.3% of his hits go for extra bases.
With Albuquerque still having a month of games left on its schedule, the promotion will allow Veen some extended run while also exposing him to the hitter-friendly environs of the Pacific Coast League, a precursor to the elevation he can expect at Coors Field.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Ryan Feltner (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: Late August or early September
Feltner, who was placed on the IL on Aug. 8, pitched 2 2/3 innings for Triple-A Albuquerque on Aug. 21. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Manager Bud Black had hoped for Feltner to go three or four innings. The club could have Feltner make another rehab start. (Last updated: Aug. 22)
RHP Victor Vodnik (right biceps inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Vodnik felt discomfort when he tried to warm up on Aug. 20, and reported it to coaches.
“I know myself, and I’m going to go out all out no matter how I’m feeling. So the best thing for me was to just be like, ‘I don’t want to risk anything,’" said Vodnik on Aug. 21.
Vodnik will not be allowed to throw a ball for a few days in hopes that the inflammation subsides, and he said he will follow advice of team doctors and head athletic trainer Keith Dugger. He hopes to return by season’s end. (Last updated: Aug. 21)
RHP Jaden Hill, (right hamstring strain; Rockies No. 21 prospect)
Expected return: TBD
With the Rockies needing to protect Hill on their 40-man Major League roster and not risk losing him in the Rule 5 Draft, the expectation has been that they will add him before the season ends and test him in big league games. The plan hit a snag on Aug. 17, when Hill struck out three batters in a game against Triple-A Round Rock, but sustained an injury on his final pitch.
Rockies assistant player development director Jesse Stender said recovery from such injuries is hard to predict, especially so quickly after the incident.
"We're hopeful that he'll be back in games at some point," Stender said. (Last updated: Aug. 19)
OF Kris Bryant (back strain)
Expected return: TBD
Bryant, who was limited to just 122 games in his first two seasons with the Rockies, makes his third trip to the injured list in Year 3. The 32-year-old is dealing with a back strain, which is the same ailment that sent him to the IL in April for just under five weeks. (Last updated: Aug. 12)
RHP Dakota Hudson (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Late August or early September
Hudson worked on improving his strike zone performance during a trip to Triple-A Albuquerque. But on Aug. 10, he walked four in 4 2/3 innings. Eventually, he will build his throwing and work toward improving his control. (Last updated: Aug. 11)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Germán Márquez (right elbow stress reaction)
Expected return: 2025
Márquez returned from Tommy John surgery and made one start before being placed on the IL again on July 22 (retroactive to July 19). On Aug. 8, he was shut down for the rest of the season with a stress reaction in the olecranon area of his right elbow. Márquez was transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 23. (Last updated: Aug. 23)
RHP Antonio Senzatela (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly late this season
On Aug. 18, Senzatela began a road that could lead to a late-season return by pitching 2 1/3 innings for High-A Spokane against Vancouver. In his first official game action since the injury last season, Senzatela threw strikes on 24 of his 37 pitches, and gave up two runs on two hits and two walks to go with one strikeout. (Last updated: Aug. 19)
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.
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. (Last updated: May 1)