Colorado Rockies standout pitcher Kyle Freeland suffered an injury during a crucial moment in Monday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, resulting from a collision while pinch-running.
In the ninth inning of a tied game, Rockies manager Bud Black opted to use Freeland as a pinch runner for catcher Elias Diaz, hoping to leverage his speed on the bases. However, this decision led to a sequence of unfortunate events culminating in Freeland’s injury and the Rockies’ subsequent loss.
As Freeland sprinted toward home plate after a wild pitch, a collision with former teammate Jeff Hoffman, now with the Phillies, left Freeland in agony, grasping his right shoulder.
Despite the potential for a game-winning run, the umpire upheld the out ruling after a replay review, sealing the Rockies’ defeat in a closely contested game.
With a thin bench, the Rockies pinch-ran starting pitcher Kyle Freeland for their catcher as the go-ahead run in the ninth
Freeland got thrown out at home and injured on the play, though he returned to the dugout quickly. The call stood after replay pic.twitter.com/QAmd9KyDUG
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 16, 2024
Freeland’s injury raises concerns about the Rockies’ pitching depth, particularly given his role as the team’s primary established starter amid a challenging start to the season.
With Freeland sidelined, other pitchers, some of whom are recovering from Tommy John Surgery, will need to step up to cover innings for the struggling Rockies, who currently hold a disappointing 4-13 record.
