Left fielder Kris Bryant, who’s played in just 42 games in his first season with the Rockies, might not see the field again in 2022.
After Saturday night’s game against Arizona at Coors Field, the Rockies will have just 22 games remaining.
When manager Bud Black was asked if there is still time for Bryant to heal up and return from plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Black said, “There is time but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. But we’re hopeful.”
Bryant, 30, missed time early in the season with a sore lower back. He’s been on the injured list since Aug. 1 as he deals with his foot injury. Black said that Bryant is now out of his walking boot, is receiving treatment, working out in the weight room, and playing catch.
“He hasn’t had a bat in his hand for a while, but he’s feeling much better,” Black said.
Black said he sees some benefits to Bryant returning this season, even for a limited time.
“I think he just wants to play,” Black said. “All players like to play; if he can get to that point. And just going into the offseason knowing you’re truly healthy, knowing that he played and tested it.”
The Rockies are 20-22 in the games in which Bryant has played. He’s slashed .306/.376/.475 with five home runs (all on the road), with 12 doubles and 14 RBI. Prior to the season, Bryant signed a seven-year, $182 million contract.
Friday night rewind. The Rockies’ 13-10 victory over Arizona on Friday night came on a walk-off, three-run homer by catcher Elias Diaz, who set career highs with four hits and seven RBIs. He became the first catcher in franchise history with at least seven RBIs in a game.
The Rockies led the game 8-1 through four innings before the Diamondbacks took a 10-8 lead by scoring nine runs in the fifth. The nine runs were the most allowed by Colorado in an inning since San Francisco scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning on May 4, 2021. Prior to Friday night’s comeback victory, the Rockies were 0-15 in games in which they had allowed nine runs in a single inning.
