The Rockies placed infielder Clint Barmes on the bereavement list Friday, allowing him to leave the team to spend time with his gravely ill father in Indiana.
“We told him you only get one (father), so take all the time you need,” manager Jim Tracy said.
Barmes originally planned to return today, but called the team and asked for and was granted more time given his father’s health. He is expected to rejoin the team Monday in San Francisco, according to his agent, Barry Meister.
“He needs to be with his family right now,” Meister said.
Barmes, 31, has had a challenging season. He began the season as the Rockies’ starting second baseman, but was recently supplanted by rookie Eric Young Jr. After posting career highs in home runs (23) and RBIs (76) last season, Barmes struggled in April. With his job hanging in the balance, he rebounded in June, leading the Rockies with a .313 average.
But Barmes is historically streaky and slumped this month, in which he is batting .149 with two RBIs. The fewest RBIs he had in any other month was seven in April.
“It’s disappointing. I wish I had done better offensively,” Barmes said earlier this week.
Monday, Tracy held a closed-door meeting with Barmes, explaining that Young would be receiving the bulk of playing time at second base the rest of the season.
Barmes is being used as a pinch hitter and late-inning defensive replacement.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
