TODAY: As expected, Colorado placed Senzatela on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 11). Anderson was promoted to the active roster to take Senzatela’s spot.
MAY 12: Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela was diagnosed with a sprain in his throwing elbow, club officials informed reporters (relayed by Thomas Harding of MLB.com). The issue won’t require surgery, but manager Bud Black indicated the right-hander will be shut down from throwing for three weeks.
That makes a trip to the 15-day injured list inevitable. It’s quite possible Senzatela finds himself on the 60-day IL, as he’ll have to build back up via a throwing program following his three-week shutdown period. Senzatela told Harding he expects to be sidelined for a minimum of two months, making it unlikely he’s back at Coors Field before the All-Star Break.
While it’s fortunate he won’t go under the knife, the 28-year-old is in for an extended injury absence for a second straight season. Senzatela’s 2022 campaign was cut short in August when he tore the ACL in his left knee. The recovery period extended into this year and kept him from making his season debut until last Friday. Two starts later, Senzatela departed Wednesday’s contest with forearm tightness.
He’s logged just 7 2/3 innings on the season. The Venezuelan-born hurler had a tough ’22 campaign even before the knee injury, allowing a 5.07 ERA over 92 1/3 frames. Senzatela had managed a respectable 4.11 ERA with a strong 51.1% grounder rate over the preceding two seasons. In October 2021, the Rockies signed him to a $50.5MM extension to potentially buy out four free agent years. They haven’t gotten much return on that investment so far.
It’s the second extended injury absence for a key Colorado starter. The Rox already lost Germán Márquez for the season when it was announced he’d require Tommy John surgery. Black told reporters that Márquez underwent that procedure today (via Kyle Newman of the Denver Post). He’ll be out well into 2024 and may have thrown his final pitch as a Rockie, as the guaranteed portion of his contract is up after this season. Colorado holds a $16MM option for next season but figures to take a $2.5MM buyout instead.
Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber and Ryan Feltner have each taken seven-plus turns through the rotation. Only Freeland has pitched particularly well. Colorado released the struggling José Ureña just four starts into the year, while each of Márquez, Senzatela and Noah Davis (elbow inflammation) are unavailable due to injury. The Rockies have turned to offseason trade pickup Connor Seabold for a couple outings and claimed veteran hurler Chase Anderson off waivers from the Rays this morning.
The arm injuries just keep mounting. This pitch clock was sure worth the cost.
You say that, because pitching injuries NEVER happened before the “pitch clock”, right?
He’s thrown a total of 14 innings with the pitch clock. If his elbow went down bc of 14 innings of a slightly accelerated pitching pace, he was doomed anyway.
I’ve said it before that the pitch clock makes pitchers rush their deliveries which screws up their mechanics and causes injuries. I predict by mid-season the pitch clock will at least be lengthened. It’s absolutely ridiculous to even have it just to appease fair weather fans who can’t sit through a three hour baseball game.
Tbh 2:30/2:45 hour games are pretty nice
Why?
I would like to know what the pitchers are saying about the pitch clock and not just the politically correct answers, the actual truth
I would too, gb, but it seems all of MLB has to step in line with the new rules and can’t speak against them. The new rules are apparently not popular enough with fans because they felt the need to hire Bryan Cranston for a commercial promoting them and the “new and improved” pace of play.
Would reporting be more succinct if MLBTR just reports on players that are not injured?
Last hurler standing wins the Cy Young
I hurled last night but I was on my knees, am I eligible?
No but your supper qualifies as comeback player of the year.
I wish I could type Matt Boyd is available, but he’s guaranteed to keep Detroit from being over .500 this year, and winning the Central division. A 10 million, yes that’s not a typo, a year would be pitcher. Ruined Friday night baseball, and will no doubt ruin a lot more Tiger games. 10 million really ? Good Grief.
This contract was pretty ugly from the beginning, but is just looking uglier by the day.
Pitch Clock Strikes Again !
Good thing the Rockies can call up one of the good pitching prospects they got from the Cardinals in the Arenado trade. No, no, the Cardinals fleeced them BIG time in that deal!
Players & money wise. Such ineptness!