Colorado Rockies: 3 players who scuffled after their injuries

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.

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.