Prior to the Colorado Rockies beginning the second game of their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field, Colorado manager Bud Black gave injury updates on All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu and reliever Adam Ottavino.
While rehabbing from a sprained left thumb and small broken bone in that thumb, LeMahieu went 1-for-5 and played five innings of defense on Tuesday afternoon in extended spring training at the Rockies facilities at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"“He came out of it great. He feels good. He’s going to do it again tomorrow. He’s doing well,” Black told Rox Pile and other media members in the Rockies dugout."
LeMahieu could see one or two more days of action in Arizona before Colorado makes a decision on when to bring him back. Rumors are swirling that, without a setback, LeMahieu could be back in the Colorado lineup in time for Friday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field.
Update…
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Black said the decision to send LeMahieu to extended spring training rather than on the road with Colorado’s Triple-A team involved the 29-year-old second baseman getting multiple at-bats and having access to the facilities and cages at Salt River under the watchful eyes of Rockies personnel.
Meanwhile, Ottavino, who has been dominant out of the bullpen this season for the Rockies, landed on the 10-day disabled list on Monday with a strained left oblique. Black said the move was precautionary and said he didn’t expect the injury to be a long-term issue.
"“We wanted to not turn a little something into a big something,” Black said. “Otto has felt it. It became a little more disconcerting over the weekend. We felt we should make this move as a little pre-emptive move to ensure that we don’t add any more discomfort by him throwing.”"
Black said Ottavino didn’t injure himself on a specific pitch but that the injury “came on gradually.”
Ottavino last pitched on May 27 in a victory over Cincinnati, logging two outs to lower his ERA to 0.95 on the season in 28.1 innings pitched. While warming up for the outing against the Reds, Black said Ottavino became “a little more sore,” and that facilitated the precautionary move to the disabled list.
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Also, Black said that David Dahl was sore after his ninth-inning collision at second base with Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford but the shin contusion he suffered shouldn’t keep him out of action.