ROCKIES

The Rockies must be sleeping on jail beds, because backs are hurting again

Mar 17, 2023, 2:46 PM

Remember when a bad hotel bed got to the Colorado Rockies, leading to the premature end of their star’s season? Last year was full of fun times! And in 2023, we’re right back to the back pain.

Kris Bryant’s back and subsequent injuries have held the big signee’s stint with the Rockies to 42 games thus far. Already he’s been scratched from two spring training games this past week with more back issues.

Bryant isn’t alone, Colorado’s All-Star from last year, C.J. Cron, hasn’t played since Tuesday with back spasms. Joining those two boppers with back pain is fan favorite Charlie Blackmon. The 36-year-old is in the final year of a six-year $108 million contract and is looking to recapture some of the magic which made him a four-time All-Star and the winner of a batting title earlier in his career.

The report from MLB.com is that there is no timetable for Blackmon’s return and he is not expected to play any time this weekend.

It was Brendan Rodgers who joked that the Rockies were sleeping on jail beds when he and Bryant first felt back pain last year. Rodgers is already possibly done for the season with a shoulder injury.

Just ahead of Opening Day, the injury bug is already biting the Rockies. Colorado has already lost some outfielders, youngster Sean Bouchard is possibly for the entire season, while Randal Grichuk is likely to miss Opening Day. On the pitching side, Lucas Gilbreath is out for the season with Riley Pint, Tyler Kinley and Antonio Senzatela all currently hurt.

The Rockies were expected to be among the worst teams in MLB and that was before the injuries began mounting. While Cactus League play brings hope springs eternal, that might be for everyone else in baseball but the Rockies.

***

Rockies

Jacob Stallings #25 of the Colorado Rockies and manager Bud Black...

Jake Shapiro

Incredible stat shows just how bad the Rockies start has been

The Colorado Rockies are off to the worst start in the National League, winning just five of their first 22 games in 2024

23 hours ago

Jacob Stallings Rockies fan interference...

Andrew Mason

Fan interference costs Rockies home run — but not the game

The Rockies thought they might have had a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth -- but they actually got fan interference.

2 days ago

Kyle Freeland Rockies woes...

Will Petersen

Rockies get more bad news as Kyle Freeland lands on injured list

The Rockies announced the bad news on Friday afternoon, as Kyle Freeland has a left elbow strain; he was supposed to start on Saturday

4 days ago

Three military aircraft fly over Coors Field during the conclusion of the National Anthem, prior to...

Jake Shapiro

Flight Deck Fiasco: Rockies coach plays pilot on United Airlines journey

The FAA is now investigating what appears to be Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens in the cockpit of the team's flight to Toronto

5 days ago

Kris Bryant...

Andrew Mason

Kris Bryant is headed to injured list — again

Kris Bryant is headed back to the injured list after missing the last three games due to back stiffness that set in last weekend.

6 days ago

Kyle Freeland collision...

Jake Shapiro

Rockies pinch run ace Kyle Freeland, and he suffers nasty collision

The Colorado Rockies top pitcher Kyle Freeland was injured when colliding into former teammate Jeff Hoffman on Monday

8 days ago

The Rockies must be sleeping on jail beds, because backs are hurting again