German Marquez’s comeback was short-lived — at least for now.
After making his first start of the season on July 14 in New York in his return from Tommy John surgery, the Rockies placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right elbow inflammation.
Marquez, who broke the Rockies’ career strikeout record in his 2024 debut, didn’t feel right after that start despite a week off because of the All-Star break.
“When we came back from the break and got together on (July 18) for our workout, through that Friday and Saturday, German’s arm just didn’t bounce back from the start in New York,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “He was fired up in the start in New York, and he was turning the ball loose. But it was the right thing to do, to put him on the injured list. He was concerned with how he felt and he was tentative in his side session on Saturday.”
Marquez will take a few days off before resuming throwing, and the Rockies hope to have him back in a couple weeks, Black said.
After experiencing a setback earlier this season in his return from Tommy John, when Marquez had tightness in his lower tricep following one of his minor-league outings, Marquez is now feeling discomfort in a different part of his arm. This time, it’s in the bottom side of his upper forearm.
“The soreness is sort of moving around the elbow,” Black said. “It’s not on the surgical side where the ligament was damaged and is now repaired.”
In Marquez’s start against the Mets, he allowed three runs on five hits over four innings, with four walks and three strikeouts, in the Rockies’ 8-5 win at Citi Field. Marquez posted a 7.11 ERA in seven rehab starts leading into his 2024 debut.
Right-hander Nick Mears was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Southpaw Ty Blach is likely to take Marquez’s start on Tuesday against the Red Sox at Coors Field.
Injury updates. Ryan McMahon, who jammed his right middle finger while diving into first base in Sunday’s series finale against San Francisco, was given an off day on Monday. Black insists the third baseman is fine, and McMahon said an MRI on his hand came back clean. … Outfielder/first baseman Kris Bryant, who played a few games over the weekend with Triple-A Albuquerque, rejoined the club on Monday. His final minor-league tuneup included a 5-for-5 performance with a homer on Sunday in Sacramento. He went through a full baseball workout on Monday, and the Rockies are likely to activate him on Tuesday. Bryant’s been on the injured list since June 3 with a rib/oblique issue, and has missed 73 of Colorado’s 101 games this season.
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Originally Published: July 22, 2024 at 4:13 p.m.
