Rockies’ Bouchard faces surgery after biceps rupture
Outfielder was lined up for extensive playing time
Rockies corner outfielder Sean Bouchard, on a path to get extensive playing time this season, has sustained a major injury that could end his season.
Bouchard was diagnosed with a left distal biceps rupture on Thursday and the injury will require surgery, according to MLB. com. The injury is to his non-throwing arm.
The Rockies are holding out hope that the ruptured biceps won’t end Bouchard’s season, but the club has not provided a timeline for his possible return.
Injuries have slammed the Rockies in spring training. Starting second baseman Brendan Rodgers sustained a dislocated left shoulder last week that will require surgery and will likely cost him the season, and left-hander reliever Lucas Gilbreath will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and is out for the season.
Veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk, penciled in as the starting center fielder, underwent bilateral sports hernia surgery early in camp. Grichuk remains about 10 days away from appearing in a Cactus League game and he’s likely to begin the regular season on the 10-day injured list.
Bouchard left Wednesday’s Cactus League game with an arm injury sustained during a first-inning at-bat. He underwent an MRI Thursday morning and the test revealed the rupture.
Bouchard, 26, made a positive impression in his major-league debut last season, posting a .297/.454/.500 slash line in 97 plate appearances. He hit three home runs and six doubles while walking 21 times.
His performance opened the way for the Rockies to trade Connor Joe to Pittsburgh for right-handing pitching prospect Nick Garcia. Bouchard was expected to start in left field this season after the Rockies made the decision to move Kris Bryant to right field. Bouchard’s injury opens a possible roster spot for two prospects, outfielder Brenton Doyle and first baseman/outfielder Michael Toglia, as well as Nolan Jones, who was acquired from Cleveland.
Also, veteran utility player Harold Castro, in camp on a minor-league deal, has enjoyed a solid spring camp, hitting .476, and now appears to be a lock for the 26-man roster. Castro, who played center field in his native Venezuela, might be an option as the Rockies’ center fielder on opening day, with Yonathan Daza starting in left.
“He’s played a lot of positions and he’s played pretty much everywhere,” manager Bud Black told reporters Thursday at the Rockies’ complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. “I think he’s fine (in the outfield), from what we have seen, and our scouting reports say the same thing. With Castro, we don’t lose a lot on defense with the guys that we have presently in the mix to make the team.”
Asked about Castro’s ability to play center, Black said, “It’s something that we’ll have to see in (Coors Field), but our evaluation of him in center would be pretty similar to what we have seen the last couple of years here.”
TEAM MEXICO 11, ROCKIES 1
Thursday at Salt River Fields
On the mound
Starter German Marquez struggled in his three innings, giving up two runs on five hits with one walk and no strikeouts over three innings. Righthander Peter Lambert also had a tough day, getting tagged for three runs on one hit and issuing three walks over 1 2/3 innings. And Mexico ripped into lefty reliever Brent Suter for three runs in one inning.
At the plate
The Rockies’ Alan Trejo started at shortstop for Team Mexico and was 1-for-3 with two RBIS. Middle infielder Cole Tucker, fighting to make the roster, played seven innings at second base, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. Utility player Harold Castro got the start at first base and went 2-for-3.
Up next
Giants at Rockies, 1:10 p.m. Friday at Salt River Fields.
Rockies pitching probables
LHP Austin Gomber, RHP Connor Seabold, RHP Nick Mears, LHP Fernando Abad, LHP Josh Rogers, RHP Stephen Jones.