Colorado Rockies: Injury updates on Ben Bowden and Matt Adams

The Colorado Rockies have had a slew of injuries in the first two months of the season but there are good updates on two of the five players currently on the injured list.

Rockies manager Bud Black spoke with the media, including Rox Pile, on Friday before the Rockies game with the Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed until Saturday when the teams will play a doubleheader and he provided updates with left-handed reliever Ben Bowden and first baseman/outfielder Matt Adams.

Black said that Bowden is progressing well as he had a simulated game on Thursday and it went well. Therefore, he will make a relief appearance for Albuquerque when they face the Sugar Land Skeeters (Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, who are located nearby) on Saturday.

If all goes well, the Rockies, who currently do not have a left-handed reliever, will have Bowden back here soon.

As for Matt Adams (shin contusion), Black said that he has “been coming a long way” lately in his rehab in Albuquerque. He has played two games there but he hasn’t seen any results as he is 0-for-7 with three strikeouts.

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What will the Rockies decide to do with Matt Adams?

He is not in Albuquerque’s starting lineup on Friday so it could be a few things that could be happening.

• It’s just a simple off day for Adams and he could have more rehab time in Albuquerque
• The Rockies could call him up before their doubleheader on Saturday, either on the 26-man roster or as the 27th man and then make a corresponding roster move on Sunday (assuming weather issues don’t arise on Saturday too)
• The Rockies will designate him for assignment after activating him off the IL.

The Rockies may decide to do the latter as the Rockies don’t have many options to send down, as least on the position players. The only players with minor league options that have a chance of being sent down are Joshua Fuentes, Brendan Rodgers, and Connor Joe. Fuentes and Joe have played better than Adams and the Rockies want to see more of Rodgers to see how he develops.

The Rockies could option or designate a reliever for assignment instead, though, to accommodate Adams’ return. Tyler Kinley has two minor league options and Daniel Bard has one but otherwise, a reliever would have to be DFA’d. Jhoulys Chacin, Yency Almonte, Robert Stephenson, and Mychal Givens are most likely to be DFA’d, with Chacin and Almonte being on hotter seats than the others.