The Colorado Rockies tinkered with their roster prior to their series finale versus the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday afternoon, recalling Garrett Hampson from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioning Jesus Tinoco.
This will be Hampson’s second stint with the big league club after making the Opening Day roster. Hampson hit .194 (18-for-93) with two doubles, six RBIs and 26 strikeouts over 31 games played in his first go-around with the club this season.
Hampson picked things up offensively upon his return to Triple-A, hitting .327 with six doubles and five RBIs in 13 games played for the Isotopes.
“He’s been doing great,” manager Bud Black said of Hampson. “He’s hitting the ball to all fields and moving around on the diamond. The reports have been very good.”
Black added that there is the potential for Hampson to see some playing time in the outfield moving forward this season.
In other news, Charlie Blackmon still has a ways to go before making his return from the injured list with a strained right calf, despite earlier reports that he could return on Tuesday in Chicago.
Black said Blackmon’s time table has changed from earlier in the week and that the team is being “extra cautious” in regards to his return.
The Rockies are also being cautious with closer Wade Davis, who is progressing in his recovery from a left oblique strain.
Davis threw a bullpen session Sunday and felt good following its completion. Overall, Black is “encouraged” with Davis’ progress, although there is no hard timetable for a return.
There is no hiding the Rockies’ deficiencies within their starting rotation. As it stands, the Rockies are already down three of their five started that opened the season with Kyle Freeland pitching in Triple-A, Chad Bettis now in the bullpen and Tyler Anderson sidelined for the foreseeable future after undergoing knee surgery.
Colorado has scrambled to piece together a rotation this season, and it appears as if another new face will make an appearance for Colorado. According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Rockies are expected to provide prospect Peter Lambert the opportunity to make his first career start at some point next week.
Harding added that Jeff Hoffman will start Tuesday followed by German Marquez Wednesday and that the Rockies “will work from there.”