Minor move: Dahl will start this season in Triple-a

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.» David Dahl waited a year to finally rejoin the Rockies in spring training after a nagging rib injury dragged him off the radar. Saturday, he was told to wait even longer.

The Rockies sent their prized young outfielder to minor-league camp, a short walk down the Salt River Fields hallway and around the corner from the major-league side. The 23-year-old will start this season playing for Triple-a Albuquerque.

“With David and others, I’m trying to get the point across of the bigger picture,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “Where we are as a team, the depth factor, hopefully a deep team that these players are a part of. Over time, the depth will show.”

Dahl’s demotion did not seem obvious. He leads the Rockies at spring training with five home runs and 18 RBIS. And he tore through a Cactus League schedule in recent weeks after starting the slate going 0-for-15 at the plate.

The peek at his potential mirrored his rookie season in 2016, when he hit .315 with seven home runs and 24 RBIS in just 63 games after a call-up in late July. But that promotion came only after Gerardo Parra suffered an ankle injury.

This season, Parra and veteran right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, who was re-signed two weeks ago, are healthy and standing in Dahl’s way. The Rockies are unwilling to put Dahl on their roster in a bench role. They want him to get regular at-bats, and those are available only in the minors.

“This is really the first time I saw him play up close. I could see why people in our organization think so highly of David,” Black said. “The total skill set. I can see the ability to hit to all fields. There’s power in there. His speed plays on defense and on the bases. He has a fine throwing arm. You put him on a scouting scale, the tools line up well.”

Dahl’s 2017 season unfolded in frustration. He suffered a stress reaction in a rib bone near his back that left him unable to swing a bat. And a short-term injury turned into a season-long slog. He was sent to High-a Lancaster on July 12 for two games, then played in 17 games for Albuquerque, hitting .260 with three homers and 16 RBIS.

But the injury nipped at him again, and the Rockies shut down Dahl’s season on July 31.

“There’s a component for David to stay on the field and play and do the durability part of this game that all players strive for,” Black said.

His next promotion, though, will be complicated. The Rockies have $40 million tied up in three veteran corner outfielders — Parra ($10 million), Gonzalez ($8 million) and Ian Desmond ($22 million). Desmond likely will be the starting first baseman, but he played primarily in the outfield last year. Charlie Blackmon, an MVP candidate in 2017, will start in center.

That makes Dahl expendable. At least until injuries crop up or Dahl outgrows the minor leagues.

“When a guy is truly ready, he performs and doesn’t go back,” Black said.

Footnotes. Black did not commit to naming Jon Gray as Colorado’s opening-day starter. But Gray, who pitched an abbreviated warm-up outing Saturday, lines up for Thursday against Arizona. … Tyler Anderson and closer Wade Davis will pitch in a minorleague game on the dusty back fields at Salt River on Sunday, instead of a Cactus League game against Arizona, as the Rockies try to hide them from the Diamondbacks for the season-opening series. … The Rockies reassigned catcher Anthony Bemboom and right-hander Austin House to minor-league camp. … Black said he was impressed by House’s swing-and-miss changeup and a groundball-inducing sinkerball. “He’s on the radar” for the Rockies’ bullpen, Black said.

Online. Read a recap of the Rockies’ night game with the Cubs »denverpost.com/rockies