Colorado Rockies: Tyler Anderson and Ian Desmond rehab in AAA

The Colorado Rockies currently have three players on the disabled list (Tyler Anderson, Ian Desmond, and Ryan Hanigan). However, both Anderson and Desmond are currently with AAA Albuquerque in rehab action.

Rockies left-handed starter Tyler Anderson and Rockies outfielder/first baseman/potential shortstop option Ian Desmond are both on rehab assignments with Triple-A Albuquerque.

On Sunday, Anderson started against the Salt Lake Bees (the Triple-A team of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). It was his first appearance since being placed on the 10-day disabled list (later, the Rockies put him on the 60-day DL) on June 26.

He did not pitch particularly well as he was only able to reach the second inning and he did not retire a batter in the inning as he went one inning allowing five hits, four runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Anderson had 33 pitches and 22 were strikes. The Rockies are hoping to get him back sometime in September.

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Ian Desmond

On the other hand, Desmond has done well as in three games with Albuquerque, he is 3-for-9 with a run, a double, a homer, an RBI, and one walk.

The home run was hit yesterday and it wasn’t a cheap shot. He hit it completely out of the stadium and into the parking lot.

Desmond will either be activated before tonight’s game with the Tigers or sometime during this series with the Tigers. With Trevor Story‘s offensive struggles, we could see Desmond get some time at shortstop. However, Story went 4-for-10 this past weekend in Atlanta but he is still only hitting .213 for the month of August and .227 on the season.

When Desmond returns, I would suspect one of two moves that the Rockies would make. I think that Scott Oberg would be sent back to Albuquerque for a few days until major league rosters expand until September 1 (Friday).

Another move that you may not think of is optioning Kyle Freeland to the minor leagues. He isn’t scheduled to start until Friday but with the MLB 10-day option rule, he wouldn’t be able to come back. However, the Rockies have an off-day on Thursday and they could push Jon Gray up to Friday (he would be on regular rest). Since the Triple-A season ends after this coming weekend, the Rockies could bring Freeland up next Monday.

Next: Our series preview against the Tigers

If they option Freeland, Rockies manager Bud Black could keep the deep bullpen (which he likes having) and it would give Freeland a little bit of a break (and he could even make a start for Albuquerque).