Colorado Rockies injury update: Brendan Rodgers “not close to playing in games”

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black provided an update on injured infielder Brendan Rodgers prior to the Rockies finishing a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Here is the latest news on injured Colorado Rockies infielder Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers has been on the shelf since injuring his hamstring during a stolen base attempt in a spring training game on March 13. At that time, it was said that Rodgers would miss at least a month with the injury. Now at the roughly the month point since the injury occurred, according to Black, it could be still be some time until Rodgers makes his 2021 season debut.

“He’s not close to playing in games,” Black said on Thursday of Rodgers, who was penciled in to be Colorado’s starting second baseman heading into the season.

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Rodgers, along with pitchers Kyle Freeland (shoulder strain) and Peter Lambert (Tommy John surgery) are traveling with the team in order to receive treatment from Rockies head trainer Keith Dugger and his medical team, Black said. However, Black added that, when Rodgers was getting close to condition to playing in games, the Rockies would send him to their spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the final prep work needed to rejoin the team.

“Keith and his medical team felt as though it was best to get those guys with us as they ramp up their activity,” Black explained.

Black said that Rodgers has taken batting practice and ground balls, saying that he’s “gaining on it.” The Rockies manager, however, did not provide a timeline for Rodgers’ return.

The 24-year-old Rodgers is one of the great question marks surrounding the Rockies and their future. Once considered the top prospect in Colorado’s farm system and third overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Rodgers has battled injuries, including a torn labrum that occurred just 25 games after he made his Major League debut in May of 2019. He has also been unable to find consistent playing time, but that was expected to change heading into this season.

In all, Rodgers has logged 97 at-bats for the Rockies over two seasons, putting together a .196/.235/.227 slash line.

In Rodgers’ absence, Ryan McMahon has resumed playing second and Josh Fuentes has taken over primary responsibilities at third base.