Rockies to place LHP Austin Gomber on 60-day IL

The Rockies made a flurry of roster moves ahead of Saturday’s contest against the Atlanta Braves:

• LHP Austin Gomber to the 10-day IL (lower back)
• RHP Ryan Feltner (No. 14 PuRP) selected from Double-A Hartford
• Connor Joe to the 10-day IL (hamstring)
• Joshua Fuentes recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque
• RHP Jordan Sheffield reinstated from 60-day IL (right lat strain)

Austin Gomber has been shut down for the season

Rockies left-handed starting pitcher Austin Gomber was placed on the 10-day IL this afternoon with a diagnosis of spondylolysis in his lower back. Spondylolysis is a stress fracture in the pars interarticularis — a thin piece of bone that joins separate vertebrae together. Gomber had been struggling over the last month, posting an ERA of 7.56 in six starts and 25 innings, with increased walks (15) and home runs (7). Per the Gazette’s Danielle Allentuck, Gomber had been feeling discomfort in his back recently and this was the result of his scans.

Gomber made 23 starts for the Rockies in his first full season of being in a rotation. He threw for 115 ¹⁄₃ innings with an ERA of 4.53 and a fantastic home ERA of 2.09 at Coors Field. He started out slow, but had largely been lights out until a stint on the injured list with forearm tightness. He didn’t appear to be the same after returning and is now done for the season. Gomber will start on the 10-day IL, and be moved to the 60-day on Sunday to facilitate Ryan Feltner’s call up.

RHP Ryan Feltner has been selected from Double-A Hartford

Feltner, the Rockies’ no. 22 overall prospect, is scheduled to make his MLB debut on Sunday against the Braves. The Ohio State Buckeye was a fourth-round selection by the Rockies in 2018 and has amassed over 250 minor league innings in 54 appearances (all starts).

Feltner started his season in High-A Spokane, making seven starts with an ERA of 2.17 through 37 ¹⁄₃ innings. Due to his excellent performance, he was called up to Double-A Hartford on June 17th. Since his call-up, he’s continued the trend he started in Spokane. In 13 starts, Feltner has posted an ERA of 2.85 — second best on the roster behind Frank Duncan’s 2.76. Feltner has done well in limiting the long ball, with an HR/9 of 0.87 in Hartford, along with a very good K/9 of 9.91.

Connor Joe to the 10-day IL, Joshua Fuentes recalled

OF/1B Connor Joe left Friday’s contest against the Braves with a strain in his right hamstring that he sustained while running from first to third. Bud Black said after the game that Joe would likely go on the IL, but the injury was unlikely to be season-ending. In a corresponding roster move, corner infielder Joshua Fuentes has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. After struggling with the big league team as the season progressed, Fuentes was sent down to the Isotopes. He had a slow start, but has since been regaining some steam. Fuentes can fill the same positions as Joe at first base and in left field.

Reliever Jordan Sheffield has been activated from the 60-day IL

The Rockies also announced that rookie RHP Jordan Sheffield has been activated from the 60-day IL. Sheffield, a rule 5 pick taken from the Los Angeles Dodgers, was one of the early season surprises for the Rockies. In 19 appearances and 19 ¹⁄₃ innings, he posted an ERA of 3.26, a WHIP of 0.98, and a BAA of just .167. He was placed on the 10-day IL on June 5th with a right lat strain, and was eventually moved to the 60-day later that month. Sheffield’s rehabbed with the ACL Rockies (1G, 1IP, 1H, 1BB, 2K), High-A Spokane (1G, ²⁄₃ IP, 3H, 4ER, 2HR, 1BB), and Triple-A Albuquerque (1G, 1IP, 0H, 0ER).

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Purple Row will continue to monitor this, and provide updates as they become available.