Colorado Rockies News - MLB | FOX Sports

Braxton Fulford - Sent down to minors camp Fulford was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rockies on Tuesday.

Impact Fulford was a sixth-round pick by the Rockies in 2021, and the right-handed hitting backstop had a strong season at the plate with a .268/.380/.448 with 15 homers and 13 stolen bases for Low-A Fresno in 2022. The former Texas Tech backstop is likely to begin the 2023 campaign at High-A Spokane.

6 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jeff Criswell - Reassigned to MiLB camp Criswell was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Criswell was acquired by Colorado in December in the trade that shipped minor-league hurler Chad Smith to Oakland. The 23-year-old posted a 4.03 ERA over 24 appearances (21 starts) in the minors, and will likely pitch in the upper levels for the Rockies in his first year with the organization.

6 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Karl Kauffmann - Moved to minors camp Kauffmann was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Kauffmann made 28 starts in the upper minors in 2022, and finished with a 4.96 ERA over 141.2 innings of work for Double-A Harford and Triple-A Albuquerque. The 25-year-old right-hander will be a part of the Isotopes' rotation in Triple-A to begin 2023, and could be called on to make starts for Colorado at some point over the summer.

7 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Logan Allen - Sent to minor-league camp Allen was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Allen really struggled over five Cactus League appearances with a 12.71 ERA and 2.65 WHIP in 5.2 innings of work. The left-hander will provide depth while all but assuredly opening the 2023 season with Triple-A Albuquerque.

7 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nolan Jones - Optioned to Triple-A Jones was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque by the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Jones was acquired by the Rockies in a deal with the Guardians over the winter, and there was some thought he might open the season as a starter for Colorado. The 24-year-old was shaky in his Cactus League at-bats before the demotion with a .186/.250/.233 slash and 20:4 K:BB over 48 plate appearances. Jones has a chance to help out the Rockies before 2023 ends, but it'll be Elehuris Montero and Mike Moustakas who will get the majority of at-bats from the hot corner to begin the year.

7 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Noah Davis - Sent to Triple-A Davis was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque by the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Davis was competing for a spot on the Colorado pitching staff this spring, but the 25-year-old comes up short in that goal. The right-hander could pitch both as a starter and relief for the Isotopes, as he was being built up as an emergency rotation option this spring.

7 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Charlie Blackmon - Should be ready for Opening Day Blackmon (back) will take part in batting practice before Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Impact Blackmon has been out of the lineup for the Rockies while dealing with stiffness in his back. The veteran outfielder told Harding the most important thing is that he doesn't take any backwards steps, and there's no reason for him to be rushed into the lineup during exhibition play. Most importantly, Blackmon believes he'll be ready for Opening Day, and there's a good chance that happens if there are no setbacks.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Altuve could be out for a while; Nimmo has hopes for opener

The Houston Astros are expecting to be without second baseman Jose Altuve for a while after he was diagnosed with a broken right thumb

1 DAY AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP source: Rockies sign Profar to shore up outfield

A person familiar with the negotiations says the Colorado Rockies have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with outfielder Jurickson Profar

1 DAY AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jurickson Profar - Lands with COL Profar agreed Sunday to a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Rockies, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Heyman reports that Profar can earn another million in incentives if he reaches 400 plate appearances. Considered to be the top bat remaining on the market, the 30-year-old hit .243/.331/.391 with San Diego in 2022 over 152 games while adding 15 homers and five stolen bases. He's played all over the field and could be an option for Colorado in the outfield as well as at second base. Profar is a flawed option who is unlikely to hit for average, but the friendly confines of Coors Field does give him some potential fantasy relevance in 2023.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Embrace the madness: What do Rockies need to beat odds in '23? LAS VEGAS -- Kris Bryant has been hearing about odds his whole life. That literally comes with the territory when you grow up in Las Vegas....

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Leicester fans: Discuss the Brentford game with Rob Harris Pose your questions now and our Leicester writer Rob Harris will join in a couple of hours before this away game kicks off. Then discuss Bre...

2 DAYS AGO • THEATHLETIC.COM

C.J. Cron - Dealing with back spasms Cron hasn't played since Tuesday and will be out at least a few more days due to back spasms, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact It appears to be a day-to-day situation at this point, although the Rockies aren't providing a timetable for Cron's return. Mike Moustakas and Harold Castro have handled first base the last two days and Michael Toglia would also be a candidate to see time there if Cron's absence drags on.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Charlie Blackmon - Ruled out through weekend Blackmon (back) will not return to the Rockies' lineup before the end of the weekend, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Blackmon has already missed a week of action with back soreness and won't return for at least a few more days. There's been no indication that his readiness for Opening Day could be in doubt, so a return at some point next week seems likely.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Randal Grichuk - Expects to be back in mid-April Grichuk (groin) expects to return to the Rockies lineup in mid-April, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Grichuk is able to go through regular workouts now and is ramping back up his baseball activities following offseason hernia surgery. It does not appear he will be ready to play in any Cactus League games before the schedule runs out, but he could stay back in extended spring training to get more work in to prepare for a mid-April return.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ezequiel Tovar - Expected to start at shortstop Tovar is expected to serve as the Rockies' everyday shortstop in 2023, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tovar was promoted aggressively in 2022 and earned 35 plate appearances in the majors to close the season. His surface stats weren't good in that span, and Tovar also hasn't had a particularly compelling performance this spring by collecting only seven hits -- two for extra bases -- across 31 at-bats. Nevertheless, the Rockies appear committed to giving their top prospect time to learn on the job, and he should be in line for plenty of plate appearances as a result.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

C.J. Cron - Scuffling in spring Cron has gone 5-for-29 with one home run, two doubles and nine strikeouts during Cactus League action.

Impact Cron is locked into the first base job in Colorado and has established a fairly clear baseline of performance for the last several seasons. That makes it difficult to be overly concerned by his lack of production this spring, particularly so long as he maintains his health.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Breathe easy: Bryant's fine - and he thinks he has another gear SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- On March 16, 2022, news broke that shocked the baseball world: Kris Bryant had reached a seven-year, $182 million deal...

4 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Kris Bryant - Good to go Wednesday Bryant (back) will serve as the Rockies' designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

Impact Though he'll be eased back into the mix in a non-defensive role, Bryant appears to be good to go after back stiffness kept him out of the spring lineup Monday and Tuesday. Given that Bryant missed time with a back strain during his first season in Colorado, it's possible he serves as the team's DH for a few more days before he picks up a start in the corner outfield.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Elehuris Montero - Slugs third spring homer Montero went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's Cactus League contest against the Cubs.

Impact Montero took Justin Steele yard in the second inning to tally his third homer of spring training. He's competing for the third base job and his done well at the plate, ripping four extra-base hits while also maintaining a .385 on-base percentage across 39 plate appearances this spring. The primary question for Montero's playing time will be whether he can prove quick enough to be an adequate fielder at the hot corner.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Germán Márquez - Sharp in second spring appearance Marquez allowed two hits and struck out seven with no walks across four scoreless innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.

Impact The outing was Marquez's second start of the spring, and he managed to double his workload. He now has thrown six scoreless innings while racking up an impressive 9:1 K:BB during the exhibition season. Marquez struggled to an ugly 4.90 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 181.2 innings in 2022, but he's still a lock for the Colorado rotation and should account for plenty of innings if he can remain healthy.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Bally Sports owner files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Diamond Sports Group, the largest owner of regional sports networks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday

6 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brenton Doyle - Optioned to Triple-A level Doyle was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque by the Rockies on Tuesday.

Impact Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt suggested last month that Doyle could be a candidate for the Opening Day roster, but the 24-year-old outfielder had failed to show much power in the Cactus League while also tallying 12 strikeouts across his 28 at-bats. He posted 26 homers and 23 stolen bases in 132 games last season between Double-A and Triple-A.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Sean Bouchard - Undergoes biceps surgery Bouchard underwent surgery Tuesday to repair his ruptured left biceps muscle, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Bouchard suffered the biceps rupture in a Cactus League game last week. There is no estimated timetable yet for his recovery, but early chatter had it as a possible season-ending injury. The 26-year-old was trending toward a sizable role for Colorado in 2023.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kris Bryant - Expected to return Wednesday Bryant (back) is expected to return to Cactus League action Wednesday, Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette reports.

Impact Bryant sat out both Monday and Tuesday due to a stiff back, and even minor issues are going to send up red flags after he was limited to 42 games with the Rockies in 2022. It was plantar fasciitis that ultimately ended his season, though he did also miss time in the first half because of a back strain. His status for Wednesday is certainly worth monitoring.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE