WASHINGTON -- After missing the first 56 games of the season with a fractured right wrist, Rockies second baseman Thairo Estrada saw his glove and bat return rapidly. But the star-crossed season took a threatening turn Tuesday night.
Estrada hit his first home run of the season in the second inning of Tuesday’s 10-6 win, but in the seventh, he was hit with a pitch on the right hand and sustained what X-rays showed was a right hand contusion.
The best news, however, was the injury occurred on the outside of Estrada’s hand -- several inches from the fracture point on the wrist. Held out of Wednesday night’s starting lineup, Estrada underwent ice and heat treatments and massage. He was optimistic that he will soon continue his improving play.
Estrada, 29, who signed with the Rockies during the offseason, is batting .288 (19-for-66) with six doubles and eight RBIs in 16 games. Estrada’s early absence weakened the lineup. Not having Estrada or shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who missed time earlier with a left hip injury and now is out with a left oblique injury, factored in Colorado's historically poor start.
For a period, the Rockies were not only without Estrada and Tovar, but Tyler Freeman (now playing mostly in the outfield) was out with a left oblique issue and utility man Eric Schunk sustained a right groin injury, which meant they had four middle infielders on the injured list.
Estrada’s presence is among the reasons Colorado won half of its previous 14 games going into Wednesday. He has batted .350 (7-for-20) as the Rockies are 3-2 on the current seven-game road trip.
“It’s coming -- every day the timing is better,” Estrada said. “It was a long time, not playing, missing a lot of games with the injury. But day to day, I was making a lot of contact. And the defense, that’s really fun.”
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer, who had veteran utility man Kyle Farmer in the lineup at second base on Wednesday, said, “He’s been gradually coming along to where he’s comfortable playing every day and producing. I’ve got no worries about Thairo Estrada. He goes about this business the right way. He’s a proven good player.”