HOW TO FIX BASEBALL AND THE ROCKIES
Pitcher Scott Oberg’s career is likely over after undergoing surgery to remove blood clots in his right elbow Thursday night. The news left teammates and manager Bud Black “devastated.”
“I feel for Scott,” all-star outfielder Charlie Blackmon said Saturday. “He has worked so hard and been through so much to put himself back on the field this spring. I hate to see this happen.”
Thursday marked the fourth time in the righthander’s career that blood clots took him off the mound.
Oberg, 31, underwent thoracic outlet surgery, which included the removal of a rib, last September. He had hoped the procedure would prevent the blood clots from returning.
Oberg pitched Wednesday in a “B” game, and then felt discomfort in his hand during Thursday morning’s practice. Rockies head athletic trainer Keith Dugger, who has been monitoring the pitcher carefully during camp, alerted doctors and Oberg was taken to the Mayo Clinic for an operation to remove the blood clots. He was released from the hospital Friday.
“Obviously, we’re all devastated by this, knowing Scotty like we do, and knowing some of the heartaches that he’s been through over the course of his career as it relates to this problem,” Black said Saturday morning. “We are crushed by the news. This is life stuff, right?
“On a personal level, these things are difficult because you become part of these guys’ lives, they become family — you hear that talked about in professional sports and a lot of workplaces. This one hurts.”
Oberg, who has been the players’ union representative for the Rockies, is extremely popular with teammates.
He’s also been the team’s most consistent reliever. In 2019, the last season he pitched, he posted a 2.25 ERA while limiting opponents to a .196 batting average and not allowing a home run at Coors Field. He went 5-0 with four saves and a 1.71 ERA in 28 games at Coors.
Roster moves. The Rockies announced Saturday that they selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Chi Chi González, who is a candidate to become the fifth starter in the rotation. They placed Oberg on the 60-day injured list.