July 13th 2024.
As the first half of the season comes to a close, the Colorado Rockies, who are currently at the bottom of the standings, received some encouraging news on Friday. Germán Márquez, who has been recovering from Tommy John surgery, completed a bullpen session at Citi Field and is set to make his long-awaited return to the mound on Sunday against the New York Mets. Manager Bud Black expressed his excitement, stating that the team is eager to have Márquez back in their rotation. The 29-year-old right-hander has been on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues since his last major league appearance on April 26, 2023.
According to Black, Márquez is expected to throw between 75-90 pitches on Sunday. Márquez, who has been with the Rockies for eight seasons, has a record of 65-56 with a 4.41 ERA. Black also praised Márquez's character, describing him as a team player who cares deeply about his teammates and the organization. The manager also mentioned that Márquez is a fierce competitor and has a strong love for the Rockies.
In other injury updates, Kris Bryant, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, took batting practice and intensified his strength and conditioning workout. Black revealed that Bryant is likely to start a minor league rehab assignment after the All-Star break. The 32-year-old slugger has been out of the lineup since June 3 with a bruised left rib and was previously on the injured list from April 14 to May 21 with a low back strain.
Bryant, who was the 2016 NL MVP with the Chicago Cubs, has struggled with injuries and performance since signing a big contract with the Rockies in 2022. He currently has a batting average of .186 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 24 games this season. However, Black remains hopeful that Bryant will make a strong comeback and contribute to the team's success.
In other news, outfielder Charlie Blackmon returned to the lineup on Friday after missing three games due to a sore right hamstring. The four-time All-Star and 2017 NL batting champion was back in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter. However, Nolan Jones was scratched from the lineup due to back tightness and was replaced by Sam Hilliard.
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