Freeland injury not as bad as originally feared, out at least a month
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.» Rockies lefthanded starter Kyle Freeland will be out at least a month, and probably longer, as he recovers from a strained left shoulder.
His injury leaves a gaping hole in Colorado’s rotation, which was the club’s strength heading into the season.
Now the Rockies must find someone to fill the void.
That said, it could have been much worse.
“We were worried about the significance of it,” manager Bud Black said Thursday. “But the (tests) showed that, based on the degree of the strain, it looks pretty promising for Kyle here moving forward.”
Freeland, who bounced back from a bad 2019 season, went 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 13 starts in 2020 and was slated to be Colorado’s No. 2 starter behind right-hander German Marquez. Now righthanders Chi Chi González and Dereck Rodríguez, as well as lefty Ryan Rolison (the club’s top pitching prospect) are competing to replace Freeland in the rotation.
The Rockies’ schedule sets up to where they could go with a four-man rotation until the April 10 game at San Francisco.
Freeland underwent tests Wednesday morning to determine the extent of the injury and was examined by three doctors, as well as Rockies head trainer Keith
Dugger. Although Freeland will not need surgery, Black confirmed he will be out at least a month. But just how long Freeland will be sidelined is still to be determined.
“I think it depends on where this goes over the next few weeks to determine a timeline,” Black said. “He’ll get another image again in a couple of weeks to get a sense of the recovery. That will show us more.”
Freeland’s injury occurred in the third inning of Tuesday’s Cactus League game against the Oakland A’s at Hohokam Stadium. Throwing to Mark Canha to open the inning, Freeland spiked his first pitch and immediately doubled over in obvious pain. He grabbed at his side, just underneath the left shoulder. He departed the field cradling his left arm against his stomach. The players in the Rockies’ dugout bench were silent as Freeland was led off the field.
“When you see a pitcher buckle over and grab his arm, man, that hits you right in the stomach,” Black said. “You feel sick. That’s how I felt, and that’s how all of us felt. Any time you see that type of reaction, you’re worried. You think about the worst-case scenario and hope for the best as the days go on.”
Second baseman Ryan McMahon said losing Freeland for any length of time is a blow to the team.
“He’s a bulldog out there, and he brings us energy,” McMahon said. “When it’s August and you are 125 games in and it’s kind of tough to see the finish line, you need a guy like that who can help elevate the team.”
The Rockies certainly hope Freeland will be back before August. Black said the plan is to start rehabbing the left-hander as soon as possible.
“With that first month period, I would assume there will be some activity as far as throwing, playing catch and gaining strength back,” Black said. “Overall, it was good news.”
Black said that Freeland “exhaled” when he heard the prognosis — and then got down to the business of getting better.
“He’s ready to start rehabbing right away,” Black said. “We have treatment today, some light stretching. He’s moving it around.”