Colorado Rockies: 3 players who scuffled after their injuries

Apr 27, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Raimel Tapia takes his turn at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Raimel Tapia takes his turn at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
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Aug 4, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Raimel Tapia (15) slides into second base with a double against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 4, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Raimel Tapia (15) slides into second base with a double against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Like any Major League Baseball team, the Colorado Rockies dealt with their share of injuries during the 2021 season. However, there are certain players who went through injuries during the season that struggled more after they came back, derailing what could have been a solid statistical season.

In this article, we’ll take a look at three players who looked like different players when they came back from the 10-day injured list in 2021.

Here are 3 members of the Colorado Rockies who came back from the injuries, but struggled upon their return.

Raimel Tapia

Injury: Placed on 10-day injured list on August 10 with right big toe strain. Activated August 30.

Before injury: .288/.339/.386 with OPS of .725

After injury: .209/.277/.308 with OPS of .505

Tapia seemed to have a hold on the leadoff spot for the Rockies when he suffered a toe injury in late July in a series against the San Diego Padres. Tapia tried to push through the injury but lasted just one at-bat on August 8 in a home game against Miami after reaggravating it.

When he went on the injured list, Tapia had a career-high 24 doubles already logged, many of those “hustle doubles” as Tapia’s speed and aggressiveness allowing him to take second on what many would have considered just a long single. After his injury, Tapia had just two doubles in his final 91 at-bats after the injury.

While he was out, Connor Joe grabbed command of the leadoff spot. Joe, however, left a game against Atlanta on September 3 with a hamstring injury and would be out the rest of the season. Had Joe (who took over for Tapia in left field as well) stayed healthy, would Tapia have received as much playing time in September and October as he did? It’s an interesting thought about a player who had plenty of dynamic moments in the season, but not nearly as many after his injury as he did before it.

Aug 15, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Yonathan Daza (2) hits a single during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Yonathan Daza (2) hits a single during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Yonathan Daza

Injury: Placed on 10-day injured list under COVID-19 protocols on July 16. Activated July 31.

Before injury: .295/.345/.381 with .726 OPS

After injury: .228/.279/.246 with .524 OPS

Daza was one of four Rockies players who were placed under COVID-19 protocols just after the All-Star Game. The 27-year-old outfielder was already started to show some decline just before the All-Star break, hitting just .103/.212/.138 in 29 July at-bats after finishing June with a blistering .327/.364/.446 in 101 at-bats.

There was a stretch of the early season where Tapia and Daza at the top of the lineup was dubbed as Colorado’s “swagger and dagger” combination as both brought excitement and energy and set the table for Trevor Story, C.J. Cron, Charlie Blackmon, and the rest of the Rockies lineup. However, both would also not only be injured but struggle after the All-Star break.

What does Yonathan Daza’s cold streak after his injury mean for his future with the Colorado Rockies?

It’s somewhat safe to wonder now about how each of them will fit into Colorado’s 2022 plans. There has been plenty of talk about Colorado needing to add power into its lineup and, while Tapia and Daza each possess speed and the ability to make things happen when they’re clicking at the plate, neither are power hitters.

What will that mean for their future in purple? We’ll find out this offseason.

Sep 8, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher John Gray (55) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher John Gray (55) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Jon Gray

Injury: Placed on 10-day injured list with right forearm tightness on September 1 (retroactive to after August 28 start). Activated September 8.

Before injury: 4.13 ERA, 4.01 FIP, .238/.319/.393 slash line with OPS of .712 against

After injury: 7.15 ERA, 5.42 FIP, .277/.333/.553 slash line with OPS of .887 against

One of the biggest questions for the Rockies entering the offseason is whether Jon Gray will be back with the team as a member of the rotation in 2022. With his contract ending in 2021, there are still some questions about Gray’s return, even though he has been vocal about wanting to return to Denver.

Will Jon Gray be back with the Colorado Rockies?

While there are questions about Gray’s future with the Rockies, there is no question that the end to Gray’s 2021 season was less-than-desirable. The 29-year-old right-hander lasted just 22.2 innings in his final five starts of the season after coming back a stint on the injured list with right forearm tightness. Gray gave up seven home runs in that stretch, including three in his final outing of the season on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gray posted an overall hits per nine innings of 8.5 in 2021, his lowest mark in that category since 2016. However, that includes 10.54 hits per nine innings in his final five starts of the year.

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Gray certainly made an effort to pound the strike zone to finish the season (striking out 32 in his final 22.2 frames). However, it was feast or famine with Gray as he did this, with batters either missing or making Gray pay more than they did before his trip to the injured list.

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