Colorado Rockies news: Jon Gray activated from DL as roster is shaken up

As expected, the Colorado Rockies brought Jon Gray off the 10-day disabled list prior to his start on Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. It was the other roster moves of the day by the Rockies that came as a bit of a surprise.

The Rockies shook up their bullpen, designating veteran reliever Chad Qualls for assignment to make room for Gray on the active roster. Colorado also swapped catchers, sending Tom Murphy to Triple-A while recalling veteran Ryan Hanigan from Albuquerque.

Gray last made a start for the Rockies on April 13 in San Francisco. On that day, he jumped for a batted ball and suffered a broken bone in his left foot, ending his day after four innings. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list the next day. In three starts prior to being placed on the disabled list,the 25-year-old right-hander had no decisions with a 4.38 ERA, logging seven walks and nine strikeouts.

In three rehab appearances between High-A Lancaster and Albuquerque, Gray went 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA, while posting six walks and 18 strikeouts.

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Gray has made 41 career starts since debuting in 2015 with the Rockies. He has a Major League record of 10-12 with a 4.76 ERA with 80 walks and 234 strikeouts.

The 38-year-old Qualls has 844 career appearances in a Major League career that spans back to 2004 with the Houston Astros. This season with the Rockies, Qualls has posted a 1-1 mark with a 5.40 ERA in 19 appearances with Colorado this season. In his 14-year Major League career, the right-hander is 52-48 with a 3.89 ERA. He was in the final year of a two-year deal he inked with the Rockies in December of 2015.

Expected to be a key contributor to the Rockies offense once he healed from a broken forearm suffered in spring training, Murphy has struggled mightily this season. The 26-year-old catcher is just 1-for-20 (.050) with one double and one RBI in eight games with the Rockies since being reinstated from the 10-day disabled list on June 15. Spanning parts of three seasons, Murphy is 22-for-99 in his big league career with Colorado.

The 36-year-old Hanigan, meanwhile, continues to be one of the surprise stories for the Rockies this season. With this call-up, he will be making his second stint on the Rockies active roster. Signed to a minor league contract on March 28, the 11-year veteran has batted .256 in 13 games with Colorado, notching two home runs, eight RBI and three walks. He has posted a 3.04 catchers ERA.

Next: What if Colorado made no moves at this year's trade deadline?

Also of note, the Rockies now have 39 players on their 40-man roster, giving Colorado some freedom to acquire or move personnel as the All-Star break and end of July trading deadline approaches.

As expected, the Colorado Rockies brought Jon Gray off the 10-day disabled list prior to his start on Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. It was the other roster moves of the day by the Rockies that came as a bit of a surprise.

More from Rox Pile

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