Colorado Rockies Roster Moves: Gerardo Parra Reinstated

Get ready for a logjam in the Colorado Rockies outfield.

On Sunday, the Rockies reinstated outfielder Gerardo Parra from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Rafael Ynoa to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Parra will join a crowded Colorado outfield that includes All-Stars Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon as well as rookie David Dahl, who is making history by starting his first 12 games with at least one hit.

On Saturday night, Dahl continued his torrid start, going 3-for-5 and scoring three runs in the Rockies’ 12-6 win over the Miami Marlins. Dahl has hit safely in each of his first 12 major-league games, the longest career-opening hit streak for any active player. According to Elias Says via ESPN.com, the last player to begin his major-league career with a hitting streak of 12 or more games was Glenn Williams, who is one of few players that can boast that he got a hit in every game of his major-league career. As a note, his career in the majors lasted a total of 13 games with the Twins in June 2005.

Blackmon is also white-hot at the moment as he went 4-for-5 with a triple, homer, and four RBIs on Saturday night. With that effort, Blackmon became the first leadoff hitter in Rockies history to have at least four RBI and four hits, which include a triple and home run, in a single game. According to Elias Says via ESPN.com, the last leadoff hitter for any team to do that was Philadelphia’s Shane Victorino on April 14, 2010 against the Nationals (four hits, five RBI).

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This is the situation that Parra returned to on Sunday. He was inserted into the starting lineup as Gonzalez needed an extra day to further heal his sprained ankle he suffered on Wednesday night.

So what to do with Parra?

“Physically, he’s doing very well,” said Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss. “He provides great defense and, in a short period of time, he’s become of our leaders. We have to figure out splitting the time between four good outfielders. It’s a good problem to have.

“I have four really good outfielders playing and they’re all good, Major League-quality outfielders. I can’t look into the future and say exactly how it’s going to go.”

Parra was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 17 (retroactive to June 15) with a sprained left ankle. He has batted .263 (64-for-243) with 32 runs, 20 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 27 RBI, four walks and six stolen bases in his 63 games with the Rockies this season.

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Another thing affected by Sunday’s move is Colorado’s depth at middle infield. With Ynoa being optioned, Tony Wolters now becomes the third shortstop behind Daniel Descalso and Cristhian Adames.

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