The Colorado Rockies were forced to place one of their best players on the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon is dealing with turf toe on his left foot and will be sidelined for the next two weeks.
In a corresponding move, the Rockies have promoted catcher Dustin Garneau from Triple-A Albuquerque. Gerardo Parra got the start in center field today and will continue to assume those duties until Blackmon returns. The team announced the transactions on Twitter earlier today.
The #Rockies have made the following transactions: pic.twitter.com/dAkrrLwFzy
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 14, 2016
Blackmon, 28, suffered the injury during Wednesday night's game against the San Francisco Giants when he dove back to second base. He's dealt with the injury earlier in his career, as manager Walt Weiss said earlier today that "he has a history of it."
Although he was off to a slow start in 2016, Blackmon has been one of MLB's best outfielders in the previous two seasons. He earned his first All-Star honors in 2014 when he hit .288/.335/.440 with 82 runs scored, 19 home runs, 72 RBI and 28 stolen bases. He followed that up last year with a .287/.347/.450 stat line in addition to 93 runs scored, 17 home runs, 58 RBI and 43 stolen bags.
The Rockies avoided arbitration with him this offseason and agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract.
Parra, who the Rockies signed to a three-year, $27.5 million contract, should be a good replacement for Blackmon. The veteran just began his eighth MLB season and has played all three outfield positions throughout his career. He also owns a career stat line of .276/.326/.404.
Fellow outfielder Ben Paulsen, who got the start today in left field, is expected to get more time with Blackmon on the DL.
The addition of Garneau to the MLB roster is perhaps an insurance move after catcher Nick Hundley took a foul ball off the face mask last night and was not in the starting lineup on Thursday as a precaution.
Colorado will miss Blackmon, especially since they'll face the Cubs, Reds, Dodgers, Pirates and Diamondbacks during his absence, but the team's offense has been just fine amidst his struggles to start the year.
