On Friday, prior to the Rockies’ first full squad workout on Sunday, the team revealed that outfielder Gerardo Parra had surgery one week prior to remove a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Parra, 30, has had injury problems over the course of his time with the Rockies after signing a three-year, $27 million contract prior to the 2016 season, but bounced back to hit .309 in 2017 and provide both energy and leadership in the clubhouse and on the diamond.
“I felt something when I was (hitting) in the cage and there was some pain in there,” Parra told The Denver Post. “It feels better already, not as much pain. I’m going to be ready by opening day.”
The four-to-six week window of the recovery period will reduce Parra’s practice time in spring training, but he should be able to hit his goal and play in Colorado’s road opener against Arizona on March 29.
“I think the history of hamate bone (injuries) is that guys come back and there are really no issues,” manager Bud Black explained in the Post. “You are always concerned when there is any procedure, but in this case it is pretty straight forward for most all players. And the recovery rate is very, very high. He’s going to be fine.”
David Dahl, who missed the entire 2017 major-league season with a rib injury, will have an opportunity to re-establish himself in the outfield while Parra recovers. The 24-year-old dazzled in 2016, hitting .315 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 63 games.
Ian Desmond, who was signed prior to the 2017 season to play first base, spent most of his season in left field. He’s expected to spend more time at first this season, as Dahl’s return to form would create a logjam behind MVP candidate Charlie Blackmon, a healthy Parra, and youngsters Raimel Tapia and Mike Tauchmann, who both made their major-league debuts last season.