Brenton Doyle is back, and the Rockies surely hope he brought a rejuvenated bat with him.
The Rockies activated ahead of Friday’s homestand opener against the Royals. Doyle has been on the injured list since May 21 due a combination of two injuries, a left oblique contusion and left groin tightness. Prior to landing on the IL, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner was hitting .207 in 43 games with just one homer.
It’s the second straight down offensive year for Doyle, who hit .233 with 15 homers last year after he asserted himself offensively in 2024 (.260/.317/.446 slash line with 23 homers in 149 games).
In Doyle’s absence, the Rockies have seen rookie Cole Carrigg emerge as a spark in the lineup. Carrigg, who debuted June 9, is hitting .296 with a .373 on-base percentage and 5 homers in 41 games. Jake McCarthy and Carrigg have been taking most of the starts in center field while Doyle was sidelined. Mickey Moniak has also played 11 games at the position this year.
Doyle swung the bat well during this rehab appearance in Triple-A Albuquerque, including going 3-for-6 with a double on Tuesday followed by 3-for-5 with a double and a homer on Wednesday. Colorado needs that type of output from Doyle at the big-league level, considering he is under control
In a corresponding move, the Rockies optioned catcher Braxton Fulford to Albuquerque.
