Michael Cuddyer placed on disabled list by Colorado Rockies
By Hayden Kane
The Colorado Rockies had to hold veteran outfielder and defending NL batting champion Michael Cuddyer out of the lineup for the entirety of their series this past weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies as a concession to his sore left hamstring.
The team was hoping to avoid the disabled list with Cuddyer, but a few days of rest was not enough to return Cuddyer to the lineup. The Rockies announced on Monday that he has been placed on the 15 day disabled list.
Cuddyer described the injury to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:
"I can swing the bat, I can throw, but I can’t run. Well, I can run, but maybe at only 50-60 percent power right now……We got an MRI done, saw some pictures and it showed that it was strained. It’s a minor strain. It’s in the tendon area (by the knee) more than it is in the belly of the muscle. I don’t know how long it’s going to be before I’m back.”"
It sounds like the Rockies are hoping that the decision to be without Cuddyer in the short term in April will pay off over the long haul of the season. These are nervous times in Colorado, however, as superstar outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is also dealing with an injury as he plays through knee tendinitis.
Cuddyer will be eligible to return on May 3rd. The Rockies recalled utility player Charlie Culberson to take Cuddyer’s place on the active roster as they prepare for a stretch of division games this week.