Colorado Rockies injury update: Bud Black on Daniel Murphy’s return

Winners of seven of their last eight games, the Colorado Rockies are close to having their full offensive lineup finally back in place. However, there is still one key piece missing … and it looks like his return is imminent.

Daniel Murphy has been on an injury rehab assignment with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, working his way back from an avulsion fracture of the left index finger he suffered in the Colorado Rockies’ second game of the season. According to Colorado manager Bud Black, Murphy has left Albuquerque and will be back in Denver in time for Colorado’s Tuesday night game against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field.

However, according to his interview this morning on MLB Network Radio, Murphy probably won’t take the field on Tuesday night.

"“We’re probably going to give him the day,” Black said. “He’s had three days in Albuquerque. We figure we’ll get him back to Denver and re-evaluate the finger. Then we’ll make a decision tomorrow or the next day on what direction we’re going to go with Daniel.”"

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During his time in Triple-A, Murphy got 13 at-bats and recorded two hits. He also played in the field and Black said he has experienced no discomfort or setbacks with the finger. Black mentioned in his pregame chat with Rockies media, including Rox Pile, on Monday afternoon that Murphy even made a diving play in the infield in Albuquerque and suffered no ill effects from it.

Black also mentioned on the radio interview that Murphy seemed to be returning ahead of schedule, a good sign for a Rockies offense that enters Tuesday play with a combined .231 batting average, ranking them 23rd among Major League Baseball’s 30 teams.

"“I think where this one (fracture) was, on the very far tip of the finger, that joint, might have been a little bit of a good break for us,” Black said."