March 13: Desmond will undergo surgery on the second to repair the second metacarpal in his left hand on Wednesday, the Rockies announced to the team’s beat writers (Twitter link via Nick Groke of the Denver Post). The Rockies didn’t include a timetable for his recovery in their subsequent release.
March 12: Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond suffered a fracture in his left hand, the club announced to reporters (including MLB.com’s Thomas Harding). Desmond was hit by a pitch from the Reds’ Rookie Davis during the fourth inning of today’s Spring Training contest between the two teams, and soon left the game during a pitching change. Desmond will visit a hand specialist on Monday to determine the extent of the injury, though it seems all but certain he’ll begin the season on the disabled list.
[Updated Rockies depth chart at Roster Resource]
Needless to say, this is a very unfortunate setback for both Desmond and a Rockies team that has designs on contending for a postseason berth in 2017. This will mark Desmond’s first trip to the DL since 2012, when he missed almost a month of action recovering from a torn oblique. Apart from that year, Desmond has been a picture of durability, appearing in at least 154 games in every other season since 2010.
Colorado signed Desmond to a five-year, $70MM deal in December that was widely considered to be the offseason’s most surprising free agent signing. Not only did the Rockies surrender the 11th overall pick in the draft (the highest non-protected pick) to sign the qualifying offer free agent, but the Rockies also intended to use Desmond as their starting first baseman. Desmond was going to be playing the position for the first time in his pro career, and given Desmond’s ability to play shortstop and all three outfield spots, many questioned the Rockies’ decision to deploy such a good athlete at the least-demanding position on the diamond.
Desmond’s fractured hand continues what has already been a nightmarish spring for the Rockies. Outfielder David Dahl will also miss the start of the year due to a stress reaction in his ribcage, rotation hopeful Chris Rusin (oblique) and reliever Chad Qualls (elbow) have both been sidelined and, worst of all, Chad Bettis has begun chemotherapy treatments in his continuing battle with testicular cancer.
The Rockies re-signed Mark Reynolds to a minor league deal last month, and the veteran now looks to be the top candidate to fill in for Desmond at first base. Rookies Jordan Patterson and Stephen Cardullo are also potential internal solutions, with the left-handed hitting Patterson perhaps the best fit to platoon with the righty-swinging Reynolds. The Rockies could also use Gerardo Parra (who saw some limited action at first last season) or utilityman Alexi Amarista could try out one of the few positions he has never played in his MLB career, though both could be better deployed in the outfield given Dahl’s absence.
As for external possibilities, former Rockie Justin Morneau is available on the open market, though Morneau’s ability for extended time in the field could be a question mark given his checkered injury history. Ryan Howard, Billy Butler and Kelly Johnson are a few other notable first base names still looking to find a new team. Colorado is also likely to explore trades or waiver claims on other first basemen who may become available as teams look to trim their rosters before Opening Day.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
No need to fear! Mark Reynolds is here!
Lmao don’t troll Rockies fans. What did they do to you
Im a fan of the Rockies, so not much. he did fine last year. He could have done better, but he was good enough to be a starter.
who the hell is rookie davis?
Crash in his first year
That was good.
A part of the champman trade.
Damn sucks for the Rockies, hope it doesn’t need surgery.
Gone for 8 weeks and this year is pretty much a loss for them as that injury saps power and average.
Completely disagree. Desmond puts that lineup over the top. Without him, they still have tons of production 1-9.
1-9…so their pitchers offer tons of production? haha
Desmond was probably a 2-3 win player for them, I don’t think this loss hurts them all that much either.
Not talking about the team. Talking about Desmond’s season. Hand injuries have a way of lingering for an entire season or more. Just ask Wil Myers. Rockies have a ton of good bats in that lineup, although I don’t think they have a great hitting pitcher. With Dahl injured and Desmond out 6-8 weeks, they will be missing 2 of 8 bats so they are going to see a dip in offensive production.
Better a hand injury than a wrist, foot or muscle.
It’s always a lost year for them unless they can find people that can pitch in Denver
Pitching is a different story
That’s the issue
Offense is always good
Pitching blows
Nope. Offense is always average. Pitching is always average. Coors skews the numbers dramatically in opposite directions.
Could probably get the Yankees to trade Chris Carter.
Carter can’t be traded until June.
He can if he consents to it
He wouldn’t do that and the Commissioner would veto the trade anyway.
When’s the last time that happened? I doubt this commissioner would do that.
No team has ever tried it because the Commissioner’s office would immediately veto the trade. MLB has a vested interest in keeping sign-and-trade deals out of the sport.
Maybe Matt Holiday can bring his show back to Coors.
Jose Abreu trade?
why?
Replacing Bettis is the bigger issue. So I’d say wrong Jose. Quintana trade could make sense if Rockies really feel they are contenders.
Wondering if Pedro and Boras are regretting that minor league deal they signed yesterday after waiting all winter for this very thing to happen.
Ryan Howard is still available.
But, it is ironic, one of the best explanations for why they signed Desmond was to cover for a serious injury in another position.
Good observation about Desmond’s versatility. I’m thinking the Rockies could uncover another banger with Patterson. Nice swing and good pop. Reynolds is a veteran who could help him develop. Best wishes to both Desmond and Chad Bettis. The Rox pitching is still a problem. Nothing new there.
nice. pedro alvarez waits all winter, finally takes a minor league deal one day too early
Maybe Alvarez will fail the Oriole physical. I hear it’s pretty tough.
He’s going to buy a fake cast for his leg and one for his neck and walk in coughing.
The ,Rockies need someone that can play in the field. Alvarez doesn’t fit the need.
Ben Paulsen? Bryon Park?
Unfortunate for the Rockies.. No reason to trade or sign someone at this point but it sure won’t help them get off to a great start. Never quite understood the logic of that signing
I know for certain I’m in the minority but I liked the signing a lot. Rockies are getting Desmond long term and his contract ends, theoretically, when his age catches up to him and his skills start to erode relative to the rest of the league. He’s essentially a swiss army knife capable of handling infield and outfield spots up the middle defensively and currently getting work at a corner infield spot to boost his versatility. Best of all, he really gets paid once Cargo’s contract is off the books, freeing up the money to pay him, and the tail end of his deal it shouldnt be terrible so long as he’s at least league average.
Maybe Justin morneau ?
If you’ve been watching Morneau in the WBC that would be a big, bold and loud no. He’s looked awful.
Yeah ive been watching but maybe he get it together in Colorado
Wishing Desmond a fast recovery from his injury. He’s a class act.
Ryan Howard…the 22 hits he gets this season will be 560 foot homeruns
Tomas and Shipley from dbacks for cargo? Pollock, goldy, cargo at top of the lineup. A guy can dream right?
Why are the D’backs trading away Shipley for a year of Cargo?
Sign Ryan Howard so him and Reynolds can take turns MASHING AT COORS FIELD.
…once every forty-seven at-bats…
What? It’s like once ever 25 and 15 at bats respectively. The Howard and MReynolds platoon is a dream come true!
Edit the first line….surgery on Wednesday, not the 2nd? Thx
This sucks for the Rockies and i hope for a speedy recovery.
This also sucks for my fantasy roster seeing as i just traded for Ian’s multi stat ability.
Enjoyed having him last year in Texas ( especially that first half ), hate to see him hurt. Get well soon and help the Rockies out!
Anybody want to guess how long it will take him to recover? Why don’t guys wear protection a la Barry Bonds? Seems like this happens much too often.
It was his hand, not his elbow.
Some guys wear protection on their wrists and knuckles though