The Rockies’ depth chart took a hit today when backup catcher Jose Morales was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a fractured right thumb.
Replacing Morales on the 25-man roster is catcher Matt Pagnozzi, called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Pagnozzi will be in uniform tonight — wearing No. 15 — and will be available against Detroit.
Morales, 28, broke his right thumb on Wednesday when a foul ball hit off his hand while he was catching. The switch-hitter was hitting .267 (16-for-60) with three doubles, seven RBI, six runs and nine walks in 22 games this season.
Morales threw out four would-be base stealers, while allowing just nine stolen bases (30.8 percent). The Rockies went 10-7 when Morales started behind the plate.
Pagnozzi, 28, will be making his first appearance on a major league roster since finishing the 2010 season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Pagnozzi was hitting .275 (25-for-91) with 17 runs, 8 doubles and 16 RBI in 30 games with the Sky Sox. The right-hander is a career .333 (14-for-42) big-league hitter with one home run, 10 RBIs, five runs and three walks in 21 games over parts of two seasons with St. Louis.
