The Rockies’ recent carousel of roster changes continued Sunday when primary designated hitter Charlie Blackmon was placed on the disabled list with a broken right hand and infielder Coco Montes was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Montes, 26, a 15th-round draft choice in 2018 out of the University of South Florida, started at second base in Sunday’s game against San Diego at Coors Field.
Additionally, the club optioned infielder Alan Trejo to Triple-A and called up catcher Brian Serven from Albuquerque as a precautionary move after catcher Elias Diaz was removed from Saturday night’s game after getting hit in the facemask by a foul tip. Diaz said Sunday morning he did not suffer a concussion but the Rockies wanted to monitor how he responded after the blow to his face.
Blackmon was hit in the hand by a pitch by left-hander Daniel Lynch on June 3. The initial X-rays revealed no fracture and Blackmon continued to play through the pain, but when the pain persisted, the Rockies did another X-ray in Denver on Saturday night. This time, the X-ray showed a fracture of the fifth metacarpal of Blackmon’s right hand.
Manager Bud Black said he expects Blackmon to be out for four to six weeks but the veteran could be out longer than that.
“The whole time it hasn’t felt great,” Black said. “He was getting treatment every day. Charlie’s a gamer. Nobody loves to play more than Charlie.”
Blackmon, 36, is in the final year of his six-year, $108 million contract with Colorado. In 242 plate appearances, he’s slashed .265/.347/.422 with five home runs and 26 RBIs.
Montes, in his sixth season with the Rockies organization, has waited a long time for his big-league debut. He earned his chance with an impressive slash line of .321/.401/.560 in 59 games at Triple-A this season. Once something of a free-swinger, Montes cut his strikeout rate down to 23% and also has a solid walk rate of 11.7%.
Montes, who wears No. 3, flew into Denver from Albuquerque early Sunday morning after being told of his call-up on Saturday night.
“I thought I was playing well and I thought I was ready and thought maybe a chance was coming soon,” he said. “The biggest thing that’s helped me is plate discipline. I was a very high-swing-frequency guy at the beginning of my career. I really worked on that and it’s really made a difference.”
Montes has a reputation as a steady, dependable fielder. “Steady Eddie,” is how Rockies bench coach and former Triple-A manager Warren Schaeffer put it. Black is impressed with Montes’ demeanor.
“What I like about Coco is the calmness,” Black said. “Even this morning when he came in he seemed self-assured. You’ve heard me say that about (shortstop Ezequiel) Tovar. There is a self-assurance and a confidence that Coco has. He doesn’t rattle. … The guys who know him say he won’t vibrate.”
To make room for Montes on the 40-man roster, Colorado transferred right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela to the 60-day injured list. Senzatela is recovering from a sprained elbow ligament.
Monday’s Pitching Matchup
Rockies RHP Connor Seabold (1-2, 5.10 ERA) at Red Sox LHP James Paxton (2-1, 3.81)
5:10 p.m. Monday, Fenway Park
TV: ATTRM
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Seabold is beginning to show a bit of promise as a back-of-the-rotation starter. The right-hander didn’t figure in the decision in Colorado’s 5-4 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday, but he pitched a solid game, allowing two runs on two hits over a career-high six innings. He’ll be making his eighth start of the season. He’s facing the Red Sox for the first time. Colorado acquired Seabold from Boston on Jan. 17 in exchange for cash considerations.
Paxton picked up the victory for Boston on Tuesday, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings in a 5-4 win over the Guardians. He struck out nine. The veteran lefty needed 28 pitches to escape a two-run first inning, but Paxton cruised after that.
Pitching probables
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Chase Anderson (0-0, 2.25) at Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (1-3, 3.68), 5:10 p.m., ATTRM
Wednesday: Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (4-5, 7.57) at Red Sox TBA, 5:10 p.m.
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