MESA, Ariz. — The Rockies, counting on their rotation to be their strength this season, were hit with a gut punch Tuesday afternoon when lefthander Kyle Freeland injured his shoulder.
Manager Bud Black called it a “sickening feeling” to see Freeland need to be pulled from the game. The Rockies are officially calling the injury a shoulder strain, and while Freeland will undergo tests and there is no prognosis yet for how much time he might miss, Black indicated that it could be a lengthy period.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed, and hopefully we get some good news out of this, but now I’m concerned,” Black said.
Freeland, who was pitching well this spring, departed Tuesday’s Cactus League game against the Oakland A’s in the third inning. Throwing to Mark Canha to open the inning, Freeland spiked his first pitch and then bent over in obvious pain. He grabbed at his side, just underneath the left shoulder. He left the field holding his left arm against his stomach.
“(It was) the back of the shoulder … where the pain was coming from,” Black said. “When you see that, it’s a sickening feeling for all of us.”
Freeland was consoled by shortstop Trevor Story and Black, and then led to the dugout by head trainer Keith Dugger.
If Freeland is out for a substantial length of time, non-roster left-hander Ryan Rolison, the Rockies’ top pitching prospect, and non-roster right-hander Chi Chi González are possible candidates to replace Freeland. Black, however, said it was too soon to speculate who might join the rotation.
Rolison, who was recently reassigned to minor league camp, pitched in a “B Game” Tuesday against Arizona and threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Gonzalez pitched in the same game, throwing two scoreless innings. Both pitchers, however, have struggled at times this spring.
Last season, Gonzalez posted a 6.86 ERA in six games (four starts). The Rockies released him but he re-signed with the team on a minor-league deal. Rolison, 23, has not pitched above High-A ball, but the Rockies are high on his potential.
Freeland, 27, a Denver native, was penciled in to start the second game of the regular season on April 2 against the Dodgers at Coors Field. The left-hander, who’s evolving into a crafty starter with a four-pitch mix, has looked good this spring. Over seven innings, he has allowed no runs on five hits, with one walk and six strikeouts. There have been no indications of shoulder problems.
“He’s been great all spring as far as (the) markers to get ready for the season,” Black said. “So, no (there was) no indication at all that this could possibly happen.”
On Tuesday, Freeland pitched a spotless first inning, with two strikeouts. Oakland reached him for two runs on two hits and a walk in the second inning — the big blow a two-run double by Mitch Moreland.
Freeland, getting a rare Cactus League at-bat, led off the top of the third and lined out to deep left field. He suffered his injury a few minutes later, but Black said there was no connection between his at-bat and the injury.
In 13 starts last season, Freeland was 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA, but his ERA was skewed by a bad season finale at Arizona. Overall, it was a good comeback season for him after a difficult 2019 (3-11, 6.73 ERA).
In 2018, Freeland had one of the best seasons in Rockies history, finishing 17-7 with a 2.85 ERA while helping lead the Rockies to a second straight postseason berth for the first time in their history. He finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting.
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