Colorado Rockies: Scott Oberg has 4th bout with blood clots, career in jeopardy

Thomas Harding of MLB.com is reporting tonight that Colorado Rockies reliever Scott Oberg underwent surgery on Thursday night in Scottsdale for recurring blood clots in his right elbow.

As a result, Harding says that this procedure “likely will end” Oberg’s career.

It is the fourth such instance that Oberg has had the recurring blood clots in his arm as his 2016 season was cut short by them. He missed the final six weeks or so then and he missed the final six weeks or so in the 2019 due to the problem.

The third instance was in summer camp in 2020 and Oberg missed the entire campaign due to it.

He was on his way back this spring training as he made four scoreless appearances and if all went well, manager Bud Black had said that he would be ready for Opening Day. However, that’s completely out of the question and Oberg’s career, in general, is in serious jeopardy.

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Oberg said recently that after the third bout, he considered retirement for “about five minutes” but he was in good spirits after seeing results on the mound and talking with other pitchers who had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery (which is what he had in 2020). They include Rockies closer Daniel Bard and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer.

Oberg last pitched on Monday. Total on the spring, he had four strikeouts and only allowed two hits across his four innings this spring.

Combined in 2018 and 2019, he went 14-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 105 appearances, making him their most reliable reliever.

If Oberg’s career is done, his 3.85 career ERA will be the seventh-lowest in club history among pitchers with at least 200 innings.

The Rockies have already had to deal with injuries to Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, Brendan Rodgers, Tyler Kinley, and now, Oberg, in spring training so the Rockies are now at the point where they definitely cannot wait to Opening Day and end spring training after it has gone awry for them in the last week or so.