The Colorado Rockies have placed Kris Bryant on the 10-day injured list due to a back strain, retroactive to August 11, the team announced Monday.
Bryant last appeared in the field on Saturday, when he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves. Without Bryant in the lineup, the Rockies have used Michael Toglia, Jake Cave and Charlie Blackmon as replacements at first base, right field and designated hitter.
Colorado recalled outfielder Jordan Beck from Triple-A to take Bryant’s spot on the active roster. The Rockies also sent left-handed pitcher Josh Rogers to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled right-handed pitcher Bradley Blalock from Double-A Hartford.
The Rockies announced the following steps today:
– RHP pitcher Bradley Blalock (#64) recalled from Double-A Hartford.
– LHP Josh Rogers was optioned after yesterday’s game against Triple-A Albuquerque.
– 1B/OF Kris Bryant was retroactively placed on the 10-day injured list (back strain) …— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) 12 August 2024
This is the third time this season that Bryant has been on the injured list, first suffering a back strain in April and then a left rib contusion and internal oblique strain in June.
Because of this, Bryant has only appeared in 37 games so far in 2024. His batting average is .218 with two home runs, 15 RBI, an OPS of .623 and a WAR of -0.7.
Bryant missing so much time is nothing new for the Rockies, who signed him to a seven-year, $182 million contract ahead of the 2022 season. Since then, he has appeared in just 159 games, posting a .250 batting average with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .713 OPS and a -1.3 WAR.
Over the course of his seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Bryant had a .279 batting average with an .886 OPS and averaged 31 home runs, 90 RBI and a 5.4 WAR per 162 games. In addition to being a four-time All-Star, Bryant also won the 2015 NL Rookie of the Year, the 2016 NL MVP and a 2016 World Series title.
Bryant wasn’t nearly that type of player in Denver, even when he was healthy.
The Rockies will open their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:40 p.m. ET on Monday, again without Bryant. The veteran will be eligible to play again on August 21 against the Washington Nationals.
Bryant is earning $28 million this season, nearly double the salary of his next highest-earning teammate.
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