Pittsburgh – A year of weird and costly injuries for the Rockies grew more devastating Friday when ace pitcher Jason Jennings was lost for the season with a fractured middle finger on his right hand.
An MRI revealed the break. Jennings visited a hand specialist Friday afternoon who determined that surgery is not necessary. Regardless, he’s out for six weeks, leaving no time to regain his arm strength to pitch again this season.
“He isn’t feeling sorry for himself, but obviously he’s frustrated,” said trainer Keith Dugger, who spoke with Jennings after he received the news. “Of the three things that could have happened, a torn ligament, a torn tendon or break, this is the best we could have hoped for.”
Jennings knew something was wrong Thursday, bracing for the worst after repeated icings failed to reduce the swelling.
“It’s disappointing to think my season might be over. I have never been on the DL in the minor leagues or the major leagues,” Jennings admitted.
Jennings sustained the injury Wednesday night while sliding into second base in Washington. His hand dragged across the bag, bending his middle finger back. He couldn’t even grip a ball to throw a warmup pitch to begin the sixth inning.
“I wouldn’t take it back,” Jennings said. “I am not one who’s going to just peel off and not try to break up the play. It just got caught. It was a freak thing.”
Jennings’ absence comes at an inopportune time. He is 5-3 with a 3.49 ERA over his last 11 starts, a stretch he considered the best of his career. He was inserted atop the rotation after the all-star break and recently won the first-ever 1-0 game at Coors Field.
“I am sure it’s hard for him right now, seeing how he got caught hurt on a play that now seems inconsequential,” said outfielder Matt Holliday, who missed 33 games with a spiral fracture of his pinkie and now wears a protective brace when running the bases. “There’s not a lot to the rehab, just sitting around waiting for it to heal.”
Filling Jennings’ spot figures to be a start-by-start proposition, at least initially. Jose Acevedo, still dealing with a sprained right ankle, will face the Mets Monday. It’s possible that Zach Day could take the next start, though the Rockies are weighing placing him on the disabled list, making him available for Jennings’ third start on July 30.
“It’s definitely challenging to our rotation,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “But we have to try to look forward at the opportunity it provides.”
Footnotes
Anderson Machado returned to Denver for a physical Friday after the Pirates’ team doctor decline to sign off on his exam. Machado is six moths removed from major surgery on his left knee. The Rockies’ doctor deemed Machado playable, and the infielder is expected to rejoin the team Saturday. His injury was aggravated after he got stuck in Venezuela for a month, delaying surgery.
“My passport expired and it took time to get a new one. It was tough,” Machado said. “But I feel better now. I am anxious for this chance.” …
Triple-A reliever Randy Williams has been called up for Saturday’s game, taking Jennings’ roster spot.
