Colorado Rockies’ Adam Ottavino Heads To The DL

Jun 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Adam Ottavino (0) reacts in the dugout after being taken out of the game during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. The Rockies won 10-3. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado Rockies’ closer Adam Ottavino has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, and relief pitcher Jorge Rondon has been recalled from AAA Albuquerque.

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Well… this one might be a cause for concern…

Colorado Rockies closer Adam Ottavino has been placed on the 15-day disabled list due to right triceps inflammation, according to the Denver Post‘s Nick Groke.

For more:

That’s… not good.

Ottavino is obviously central to the Rockies’ bullpen, considering he’s the best arm the club has out there and had been controlling the ninth inning all season.

Jorge Rondon has been called up in Ottavino’s place, and was activated Monday before the game against the Diamondbacks.

From Groke:

"Rondon has one major league appearance, a one-inning stint for the St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles (NL) on June 29, 2014. The Rockies claimed the 27-year-old Venezuela native off waivers on Nov. 3, 2014. This year he has allowed two hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings over five games at Albuquerque.“My fastball is good right now. And my command feels right,” said Rondon, who was on the Rockies lineup sheet Sunday before a rained out game against the Giants. He wasn’t officially activated until Monday."

Obviously, Rondon won’t replace Ottavino at the back end of the bullpen, as the club will likely look to John Axford, or perhaps Rafael Betancourt, to throw the ninth inning in Ottavino’s stead.

It’s doubly curious that Tommy Kahnle or Jairo Diaz weren’t called up; both guys are on the 40-man roster and once again (after Scott Oberg) were passed over for a big league call-up in favor of Rondon, despite showing power offerings in relief and, at least in Kahnle’s case, having proven talent to the Rockies at the big league level last season.

Nevertheless, Rondon takes Ottavino’s place for at least 15 days in the bullpen. In a related move, David Hale was activated from the disabled list and assigned to AAA Albuquerque, possibly as a sign that he may relatively soon see the big leagues with the Rockies, as well.