The times continued to get tougher for the Colorado Rockies Wednesday. Per a club announcement, they’ve placed Jon Gray on the 60-day injured list with a left foot fracture.
According to the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders, Gray is “leaning” towards surgery to repair the fracture.
Gray becomes the second Rockies’ pitcher in the last week to be lost for the year. Scott Oberg was also placed on the 60-day injured list recently with blood clots in his right arm. Additionally, Chad Bettis was also placed on the 10-day injured list recently.
The injury ends what was a rebound year for Gray. Across 25 starts, the hurler compiled a rotation-best 3.84 earned run average and 150 strikeouts in 150 innings. The news comes directly after he was able to hurl eight scoreless frames against the Marlins last Friday.
Last year, Gray was demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque in the midst of one of his worst campaigns. At the time of his dismissal to the minors, he had a 5.77 ERA.
The ailment also comes a day after Kyle Freeland was forced out of his start prematurely with a groin strain. Tyler Anderson is also out for the year after undergoing left knee surgery.
In his stead, the club has selected the contract of Tim Melville from Triple-A. He will take the rotation spot – for now – of Gray and start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks as they club looks to avoid being swept.
With the Isotopes, Melville has started 17 games this year and registered a 5.42 ERA. The Rockies will be the fourth club that the right-hander has pitched for the in the majors. Across six appearances (three starts) with the Reds, Padres and Twins, he tossed 14.2 innings and carries an 11.05 career ERA.
The Rockies will make Melville their 10th pitcher to start a game this year.
