Colorado Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez suffers calf bruise

Carlos Gonzalez has been playing at an All-Star level for the Colorado Rockies for multiple seasons, but if there is one issue with the 28-year-old outfielder, it has been concerns about his durability. On Tuesday night, those concerns were magnified as Gonzalez was forced to leave Colorado’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies as a result of a right calf bruise.

Gonzalez’s injury was obviously of the fluke variety given that he fouled a pitch off his own leg, but it is still an alarming trend that he has been unable to stay on the field. He has already missed five of the team’s 51 games this season, but prior to 2014, Gonzalez has only exceeded 140 games played in one season during his Major League career, and the Rockies have taken to a somewhat measured approach to his playing time in recent years.

Still, Gonzalez is a unique talent, and his career slash line of .297/.355/.525 with 132 home runs and 109 steals in less than five full seasons tells the story of a premium player. Although Colorado has already gone public with the initial diagnosis on Gonzalez, any timetable for his return would be premature at this point, and it is a safe bet to assume that the Rockies will be exceedingly careful with one of their two superstar players.

The Rockies have been exceeding expectations from the opening moments of the season, but in order to reach their maximum potential, a healthy Carlos Gonzalez is a must.