Colorado Rockies: Injury updates on Austin Gomber, Jon Gray, and more

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black had a slew of injury updates on Tuesday before their series opener against the Seattle Mariners, including updates on Jon Gray, Austin Gomber, Mychal Givens, Matt Adams, and Chris Owings.

Jon Gray (right flexor strain) made a rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, tossing four innings. On Tuesday, he threw a side session in Seattle, which Black saw. It went well so, as a result, Black said that the Rockies are currently “making decisions” on their rotation in Milwaukee, signifying that Gray could be activated off the 10-day IL when the team is in Milwaukee this weekend.

Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber is “doing great” as well.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

Austin Gomber is “doing great,” per Bud Black, and he is “feeling good” on Tuesday. He is with the team and depending on how he feels tomorrow, the Rockies training staff may clear him to resume playing catch tomorrow before they leave for Milwaukee.

Gomber is out with forearm tightness and this weekend, he had an MRI on it and it came back clean so he “could be on the same type of track Jon Gray was on” with a “couple of bullpens (and) potentially a minor league rehab assignment” before he returns. Gray last appeared in a game on June 4 so if he is activated this weekend and Gomber’s recovery time is about the same, Gomber would return right around the All-Star break.

Givens (strained lower back) played catch today in Seattle. The Rockies, however, do not have a schedule for his return, though. That schedule will eventually involve him throwing with more intensity and bullpens so his return, while not too far in the future, is still not imminent.

Matt Adams (elbow discomfort) is “getting close to swinging” a bat as he is “almost pain-free.” Black said that Adams will take batting practice with the team either tomorrow in Seattle or in Milwaukee this weekend.

For Chris Owings (sprained thumb), he is no longer on a minor league rehab assignment and he is with the team in Seattle. He could be activated off the injured list as soon as tonight but if not tonight, he will likely be activated during this road trip.

As a result, the Rockies will have to make some roster moves in the near future. If the Rockies decide to get rid of a player that has minor league options, the most likely candidates are first baseman/left fielder Connor Joe or relievers Joe Harvey, Justin Lawrence, Lucas Gilbreath, or Ben Bowden.

UPDATE (6:55 PM M.T.): Owings has been activated off of the IL. In a corresponding move, the club has designated Joe Harvey for assignment.