GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When left fielder Nolan Jones fouled a ball off his right knee, tumbled to the ground, had to be helped off the field, and then was carted to the clubhouse on a cart, the Rockies held their breath, fearing the worst.
A short time later, they felt relieved when the initial diagnosis was a bruised right knee.
“That’s what I was told in the middle of the game and hopefully that’s the case,” manager Bud Black said after the Rockies’ 6-2 Cactus League loss to the Reds on Saturday. “We’ll let it calm down, and then it’s one of those situations where it’s day to day. We’re crossing our fingers that’s all it is.”
Black said that the team did not take X-rays of Jones’ knee at Goodyear Ballpark. After the game, Jones was limping but was able to flex his right leg.
Jones, one of the club’s best young players, fouled a Frankie Montas fastball off the top of his right knee in the fourth inning. Team trainer Keith Dugger and a Rockies coach helped him off the field. In the sixth inning, a cart took Jones to the Rockies’ clubhouse in the right-field corner.
Outfield prospect Benny Montgomery replaced Jones.
Last year, Jones finished his rookie season slashing .297/.389/.542 with 22 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, 62 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 106 games after making his debut on May 26. He led the majors and set a franchise record with 19 outfield assists, surpassing Dante Bichette’s 17 outfield assists in 1999.
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