Colorado Rockies: David Dahl Discusses His Rib Injury and Prognosis

David Dahl took some time on Monday afternoon to talk about his rib injury that is keeping him out of the Colorado Rockies lineup.

In this article by Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post, you can get a good idea of the nature of the injury, which is being described as a stress reaction of his sixth rib. He will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks to see how the healing is doing.

Until then, Dahl can only do what he can to stay in game shape, which he says includes eating right and working in the weight room on his legs.

“It’s unfortunate but it happens. I have to prepare and get ready to come back in any way I can,” Dahl told Rox Pile. “I’m hopeful. I want to play but at the same time I want to be cautious with it and that I’m healthy before I get out there. I want to play but I have to take it day by day.”

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The 22-year-old outfielder is clearly bothered by missing time but is trying to find the silver lining.

“It’s pretty stressful but it’s nice at least to have a clear picture of what is going on,” Dahl said. “You just have to take it day by day and hope it heals sooner than later.“If it becomes worse, it could be a longer ordeal. I think it’s good on my part that I caught it when I did. I told the trainers about it and didn’t push through it. At the beginning, I was, but it got to the point where it was affecting my swing. I feel I made the right decision. Now I’m just doing whatever I can to stay in game shape so that, when it does heal, I can come back sooner.”

Dahl said he didn’t know how the injury occurred.

“I have no idea (how it happened). Maybe taking a weird swing or something,” Dahl said. “It’s a freak thing. It just started randomly getting tight. I thought it was a sore muscle but it kept getting worse and worse.”

Colorado manager Bud Black says it’s possible that Dahl will be back before the end of spring training. That is, of course, provided that Dahl receives a good report when he is re-evaluated in two weeks.

“I think the common theme is that he’s going to be fine — in time,” Black said. “This is not a months (long) deal. Yeah, I do (think Dahl will be back before spring training). I can’t put a date on it, but I do anticipate him hopefully getting in a game here.”

Next: Chad Bettis Discusses His First Spring Outing

Dahl believes he is already seeing progress from the injury.

“I already feel like it is getting better over the last couple of days, just resting,” Dahl said. “I don’t feel it all the time. Occasionally, maybe a certain move, but the pain is starting to go away. It is getting better.”