Brenton Doyle has had a July to remember but Sunday was a day to forget.
The Rockies’ Gold Glove center fielder injured the index finger on his right (throwing hand) early in Colorado’s 5-4 loss to the Giants at Oracle Park.
When Doyle struck out against Erik Miller to end the first inning in Sunday’s loss to the Giants, Doyle angrily threw a towel against the training kit in the dugout, according to MLB.com. But Doyle hit his finger against the kit, causing a contusion.
Manager Bud Black talked with Doyle and it was determined that he couldn’t properly grip a baseball or a bat. As a precaution, Doyle was removed from the game in the third inning — a move that prompted bizarre speculation online that he might be part of a deal ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. An X-ray showed no major damage.
“It was a tough one, sort of a freak accident,” Black told reporters in San Francisco. “It’s a contusion to the tip of his finger. … He inadvertently hurt his finger.”
Doyle told MLB.com that he hopes the finger heals quickly, allowing him to play in Colorado’s three-game series vs. the Angels beginning Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Doyle, in his second season in the majors, is having a remarkable month and has a solid chance to be honored as the National League player of the month.
Entering Sunday’s game, he was slashing .349/.413/.819 (1.320 OPS) with 10 homers, seven doubles, one triple and 26 RBIs in 22 games since July 1. He is the first Rockies player since C.J. Cron in August 2021 to record 10 home runs in a month.
Doyle joined Rockies icons Matt Holliday (2007), Todd Helton (2001) and Larry Walker (1999, 1997) as the only Rockies players to record at least 28 hits, 17 extra-base hits, 10 home runs, 26 RBI and nine walks in a 20-game span.
Doyle hit his first career grand slam and recorded a career-high five RBIs on Wednesday in Colorado’s 20-7 romp over Boston at Coors Field.
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