Jose Iglesias is a pro’s pro. That’s the primary reason why it was so important for the Rockies’ veteran shortstop to perform at a high level this season.
But there’s another reason. Iglesias is scheduled to become a free agent again at the end of the season, and with hot shortstop prospect Ezequiel Tovar on the Rockies’ near horizon, it’s doubtful the Rockies will make a play to re-sign Iglesias. But other teams will be looking and evaluating.
Iglesias’ fine season, however, has hit a speed bump. He was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a bruised and swollen right hand and thumb. Still, over the 114 games he’s played, he has proven he’s still a productive player.
“I feel really good and I feel like I have been really consistent from Day 1 until today,” the 32-year-old Iglesias said Tuesday before the Rockies hosted the Brewers at Coors Field. “I think that’s the main goal as a baseball player; to be consistent on a day-to-day basis and help your team win.
“This year has been stable. I had my position, I had my opportunities and I took advantage of it.”
Iglesias tried to play through his hand injury for about a week but it became too painful to allow him to stay on the field. An MRI on Tuesday revealed no significant damage, and manager Bud Black said the team expects Iglesias’ hand to start feeling better in about six days.
Colorado signed Iglesias to a one-year, $5 million contract during spring training and he’s performed well. His .300 batting average ranks seventh in the National League and his .333 road batting average ranks third in the majors. He’s hit .357 with runners in scoring position, tied for seventh in the majors.
Plus, he’s fielding his position well and has been a stable, veteran presence on a team in transition and mired in last place in the NL West.
“I had not seen a lot of Jose live,” Black said. “We always thought of Jose as glove first, but he’s turned himself, over the years, into a good hitter. He’s a (.280) lifetime hitter and this year it’s been proven that he’s got good bat-to-ball skills, using the whole field. All of those things.”
Here’s a set of statistics that proves Black’s point: In 21 plate appearances this season with a runner on third and less than two outs, Iglesias has hit 12-for-17 with three sacrifice flies and no strikeouts.
The Rockies signed Iglesias during spring training because they needed a veteran shortstop after two-time All-Star Trevor Story signed with Boston.
Daza returns. Outfielder Yonathan Daza came off the IL and replaced Iglesias on the active roster. Daza started in left field and hit second in Tuesday’s game.
He went on the IL on Aug. 12 with a left shoulder separation suffered when he fell hard after making a terrific running catch in center field. Daza hit 4-for-12 (.333) across three rehab games with Triple-A Albuquerque.
Before he was injured, Daza was playing well, recording a hit in 12 of 17 games (.314, 16-for-51) with five doubles, one home run and five RBIs.
“Senza” update. Black revealed that right-hander Antonio Senzatela underwent surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left knee on Aug. 29. Black said that the surgery went well and the hope is that Senzatela can begin pitching again in six to eight months.
Senzatela was injured in the second inning of a game at St. Louis on Aug. 18 when he tried to cover first base on Brendan Donovan’s infield single to Elehuris Montero. Senzatela pulled up lame and fell to the ground in obvious pain, clutching his left knee.
