Colorado Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster on Peter Lambert’s recovery

This afternoon, Colorado Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster gave an update on the forearm injury to starting pitcher Peter Lambert.

Colorado Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster held a conference call with the media today, including Rox Pile, and during it, he gave an update on Rockies’ starting pitcher Peter Lambert.

In case you don’t remember, just before the suspension of spring training, Lambert was pulled from his outing on March 10 after what was later determined to be a forearm injury. Rockies manager Bud Black told Rox Pile’s Kevin Henry and other members of the media that the Rockies right-hander would miss the start of the regular season.

However, with the layoff of games, the Rockies right-hander got a second opinion. That second opinion came back with the relatively good news that he had a “moderate” forearm sprain.

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As a result, Foster confirmed on Wednesday that Lambert will rest for the next three weeks and if all goes well, he will start a pitching program in three weeks. Three weeks from today would be April 29.

Depending on when games return and how Lambert’s recovery goes, he may be an option for the Rockies in deciding who will make the Major League team. Also, it may depend on how many players will be able to be on the roster once games start and if the Rockies keep some of their non-option pitchers on the roster (e.g Jeff Hoffman and Yency Almonte). Lambert has three minor league options remaining.

During the conference call, Foster voiced his pleasure with potentially having more pitchers on the roster as not to overwork any of them. In general, Foster said that he is “always” in favor of having more pitchers on the roster.

The second opinion on Lambert is good news for the Rockies and for Lambert as if the forearm strain is severe enough, it entails having Tommy John surgery, which carries a recovery time of 12-18 months on average. Lambert’s recovery time still remains to be seen but it should be much less than the Tommy John recovery.