Colorado Rockies injury news: Connor Joe’s return “not looking too good”

Connor Joe has played in just three September games for the Colorado Rockies, and it appears that a strained right hamstring could keep Joe out of the lineup for the rest of the season.

Joe, who often provided a spark for the Rockies in the leadoff spot, slashing .274/.394/.500 with an .894 OPS when batting first in the Colorado order, suffered a hamstring injury running the bases in a September 3 home game against the Atlanta Braves. The 29-year-old was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day, and the injury has kept Joe off the field ever since.

Here is the update on Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder Connor Joe

Before the Colorado Rockies took on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night at Coors Field in the opener of a three-game series, Rockies manager Bud Black provided an update on Joe’s status.

“Connor is doing just OK,” Black said. “With Connor, it’s going to be really close to the finish line whether he makes it or not.

“We’re probably going to make that determination in a day or two to see where he is physically. Quite honestly, it’s not looking too good for Connor. The hamstring is still sore and whether it makes sense to push or not is the question, and the answer is probably not.”

Joe is currently slashing .285/.379/.469 with an OPS of .848. He has totaled eight homers and 35 RBI and he is still holding out hope that he can return this season.

“I think there’s always hope,” Joe said after coming off the field on Tuesday afternoon. “We pushed it early. I was running and hitting BP (batting practice). We went a little fast with it, but we had to with the timetable given.

“The window is closing, right? There are 12 games left. I don’t have any expectations. I’m taking it day by day and attacking treatment in the training room with all I have. We’ll see what happens.”

Joe said his initial reaction to the injury was that it wouldn’t cost him as much time as it has.

“I didn’t think it was going to be this long, to be honest,” Joe said. “I walked off the field, and it was tight the next morning. I was hoping to be back before this.”