Rockies Put Kyle Freeland on Injured List
The Colorado Rockies have officially placed left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. This move is retroactive to April 13. To fill the gap in the roster, fellow lefty Jose Quintana has been reinstated from his own injured list stint.
Kyle Freeland’s Injury Impact
Freeland was expected to start for the Rockies just three days ago but was scratched due to shoulder tightness. The specifics of his injury remain unclear, but the team has decided to allow him time to recover through at least a few turns in the rotation.
This setback is significant for Freeland, who began the season strongly with a 2.30 earned run average (ERA) over his first three games. However, this injury puts his chances of triggering a $17 million vesting player option for 2027 in jeopardy. Freeland must complete 170 innings this season to activate this option, a milestone he has achieved only twice in his career.
Freeland’s Career Pitching Milestones
- 2018: 202 1/3 innings pitched (career-high)
- 2022: 174 2/3 innings pitched
- 2023: 162 2/3 innings pitched across 31 appearances
The Rockies are in a rebuilding phase after a disappointing 2022 season, where they lost 119 games. As a result, the organization may be reluctant to commit to Freeland’s contract option. They enhanced their pitching staff during the offseason, signing pitchers at more affordable salaries:
| Player | Contract |
|---|---|
| Michael Lorenzen | $8 million |
| Jose Quintana | $6 million |
| Tomoyuki Sugano | $5.1 million |
Current Rotation Changes
Quintana, who recently recovered from a hamstring strain, will take Freeland’s spot in the rotation. Tonight’s game will see him pitch, followed by Sugano, Ryan Feltner, Chase Dollander, and Lorenzen. The Rockies will hope their adjustments will keep their season on track during Freeland’s recovery.
