• Rockies seek options after losing second baseman.
Brendan Rodgers and his strained right hamstring have the Colorado Rockies searching for a second option at second base.
With Rodgers sidelined at least a month, the Rockies may need to shuffle around the infield. The plan could be to move Ryan McMahon from third base to second and Josh Fuentes across the diamond from first to third. There’s always the less complicated option of inserting either Chris Owings or Garrett Hampson at second.
One thing’s for sure: The versatility of the Rockies is already being tested.
“We’re not in a bind,” Rockies manager Bud Black said Friday morning. “It’s so advantageous to have those types of players who can bounce around because of cases like this, when maybe you lose a player.”
Rodgers was having a productive spring, hitting .348 with two homers and five RBIs, before hurting his hamstring last weekend while trying to steal second base. He was steadily progressing when recent tests revealed “the trauma to the hamstring, a little bit worse than was originally anticipated,” Black explained.
Another setback for Rodgers, the third overall pick by Colorado in the 2015 first-year player draft.
“He was bummed,” said Black, whose team opens the season at Coors Field against the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers on April 1. “He really felt as though this year could be a year for him to really come out and show the talent that he has. He was really excited for that opportunity in a lot of ways.”
Last season, the 24-yearold Rodgers appeared in seven games — two hits in 21 at-bats — before landing on the injured list with a right shoulder injury.
“His frame of mind is such now that, hey, it’s reality. Let’s get to work on rehab, let’s get it back to full strength and go from there,” Black said. “There’s nothing better than the start of a major league season, potentially being on an openingday roster and maybe potentially starting opening day.
“But every player’s path is different to becoming a big-leaguer. There’s a lot of hurdles and roadblocks for some guys along the way. This is one of those for Brendan.”
The Rockies will take things slow with Rodgers. He will play catch and then start hitting again in about a week.
About the only certainty in the infield right now is at shortstop with Trevor Story.
Testing, testing
One major league player was positive for COVID-19 during the past week among 14,845 tests, a positive rate of 0.007 percent.
There have been 13 positive tests — 10 for players, three for staff — among 58,733 monitoring tests during spring training, a rate of 0.2 percent, the commissioner’s office said Friday. The positive tests were among nine of the 30 teams.
Including intake testing upon arrival at spring training, there have been 29 positive tests — 23 players, six staff — among 64,192 tests, a positive rate of 0.05 percent. The positive tests were among 17 teams.
Notable
Luis Castillo is set to start on opening day for the Cincinnati Reds, heading a rotation that lost NL Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer to free agency.
“Luis is as ready as he’s ever been,” manager David Bell said at the Reds’ spring training complex.
The Reds open the season April 1 at home against the Cardinals.
• Nathan Eovaldi continued to struggle in his third start for Boston, surrendering five runs on eight hits and a walk in four innings in an 11-7 victory over Tampa Bay. Eovaldi has a 10.61 ERA this spring. Hunter Renfroe
hit his second home run. Red Sox prospect Jarren Duran had four hits and is batting .407 this spring.
• Julio Urias made his fourth start for the Dodgers, allowing two hits in four shutout innings, striking out three in a 7-2 victory over Texas. Max Muncy and
Chris Taylor each had three hits, Edwin Rios doubled twice and Mookie Betts also doubled.
• Dylan Bundy gave up one earned in his third start for the Angels, yielding three hits while striking out six in five innings in a 4-4, nine-inning tie vs. Royals. Scott Schebler hit his third home run and also singled and scored on Jo Adell’s double.
• Zach Davies made his third start for Chicago, pitching four innings and allowing an unearned run on four hits and three walks in a 6-1 win over the A’s. Willson Contreras hit his third home run and Anthony Rizzo had three hits.
• Nationals manager
Dave Martinez says righthanded reliever Will Harris
has a blood clot in his throwing arm and is leaving spring training camp to be examined by a specialist.
• Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joined the Mets board of directors.