PHOENIX — Adam Ottavino’s triceps injury turned into something worse Tuesday when the Rockies’ closer learned that he will probably be out longer than expected with an elbow injury.
The Rockies’ right-handed closer got back the results of a magnetic resonance imaging scan, which revealed an injured elbow in addition to a triceps injury.
“It’s more than I thought it would be,” Ottavino said. “Now I’m just waiting to find out more.”
Ottavino on Monday in Arizona was placed on the with what the team called “triceps inflammation.” He underwent an MRI in Phoenix, and those results Tuesday showed he also has elbow inflammation.
Manager Walt Weiss said it’s not so much that Ottavino has two injuries, but that the inflammation is lower on his arm, nearer the elbow.
“I don’t really know. I’ve felt achy so many times in my career in different ways, it’s hard to draw a conclusion,” Ottavino said.
The Rockies have two closers on the DL, including LaTroy Hawkins, who is also dealing with triceps inflammation.
Ottavino will stay with the team through its road trip, which goes to San Diego for three games starting Friday. Then Ottavino will return to Denver to speak with the team doctor, Thomas Noonan, who should give him a more precise diagnosis. The elbow inflammation was noticed only by the radiologist in Phoenix, Ottavino said.
Ottavino pitched on back-to-back days Friday and Saturday against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field.
“I didn’t feel good pitching the last couple of times out,” Ottavino said. “But I thought I felt all right.”
The Rockies on Monday called up Jorge Rondon to fill out their bullpen, and they named John Axford their new closer.
Axford on Monday pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the .
