Colorado Rockies: Injuries could create intriguing roster openings

The Colorado Rockies were dealt back-to-back pieces of bad news on the injury front on Tuesday. There could, however, be a glimmer of hope within the dark, injury-riddled skies.

On Tuesday, the Colorado Rockies announced that top prospect and versatile infielder Brendan Rodgers underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn right labrum. Originally placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder impingement, the surgery will end the season for Rodgers, who had just 76 at-bats after debuting on May 17.

Additionally, the Rockies announced that 37-year-old right-handed reliever Seunghwan Oh will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right elbow in his homeland of South Korea. The procedure will also end his season and likely also his time with the Rockies as his contract expires at the end of this campaign.

Oh had a 9.33 ERA in 18,1 innings covering 21 games this season. Since his trade from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 26, 2018, Oh has a 5.67 ERA during 39.2 innings covering 46 games. His 2.53 ERA last season helped solidify Colorado’s bullpen as the Rockies advanced to their second consecutive postseason appearance.

Both injuries will land the respective players on the 60-day injured list for the Rockies, and those moves will open up two roster spots for Colorado. What they do with those roster spots will be very interesting to watch.

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With the trade deadline upcoming at the end of July, the Rockies could potentially acquire new players through trades and immediately place them in the active roster without any additional roster moves. However, will the Rockies continue to be placed in the “buyer” category after slipping to 46-49 but just three games out of the Wild Card chase?

Colorado could also add players within their own system currently not on the 40-man roster. This could include a prospect such as left-handed reliever Ben Bowden or veteran first baseman Yonder Alonso, who was signed to a minor league contract after being released by the Chicago White Sox on July 3. Alonso has posted a .381 average in his first six Triple-A games.

Either move could potentially be a boost for the Rockies in an area where they need help at the moment. The bullpen has struggled mightily since a taxing series against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field over Father’s Day weekend and the offense has scored just seven runs while dropping the first three games of a four-game home series to the San Francisco Giants.

However, we are talking about the 40-man roster here. Remember that the 25-man roster is still locked in so any move to bring a player to the active 25-man roster would require an additional move by the Rockies.

Losing players to injury is never easy. However, these two injuries could allow the Rockies to add pieces to a roster desperately in need of some reinforcements with chances of a Wild Card appearance slipping.