NEW YORK – The Rockies, badly needing a spark on offense, activated second baseman Thairo Estrada from the 60-day injured list on Friday to make his regular-season debut against the Mets at Citi Field.
Estrada went 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch and a run scored in the Rockies' 4-2 loss.
Estrada missed the first two months of the season after he suffered a fractured right wrist from a pitch thrown by Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker on March 20. At the time of the injury, Estrada was 14-for-35 (.400) with seven RBIs in Spring Training.
Colorado is hoping Estrada is that missing piece that can help the lineup. The Rockies are last in the Majors in runs scored (179) and batting average (.218). The right-handed-hitting Estrada was put in the cleanup spot because Colorado was facing left-hander David Peterson. But the Rockies couldn’t get the big hit.
Estrada had a chance to at least tie the score in the third inning against Peterson. With New York ahead, 1-0, the Rockies had the bases loaded with two outs and Estrada at the plate. On an 0-1 pitch, Estrada hit a liner right at shortstop Francisco Lindor, who leaped and caught the ball to end the threat.
The exit velocity on Estrada's liner was 107.2 mph.
“I heard the crack of the bat. I heard the kind of eruption in the dugout of a hard-hit line drive,” said teammate Kyle Freeland, who pitched six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. “The next thing I saw, it was gloved.
“It’s just unfortunate, bad luck, not being able to get that thing through with the bases loaded to get momentum going out on the mound.”
Estrada’s best season was in 2023, when he hit .271 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs in 120 games for the Giants. That year, he placed fifth on the team with 2.5 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.
“I think he is going to be a big addition,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He is an everyday second baseman with a lot of big league experience. He plays the game hard. He takes everything seriously, and he loves baseball. For me, you can hit him anywhere in the lineup.”
Estrada acknowledged that he was eager to get back on the field. He didn’t like that the team was off to a slow start while he was gone.
“This is my first time being out of the game for so long because of an injury,” Estrada said through interpreter/third base coach Andy González. “It’s a little frustrating when you can’t help the team in any way. I’m back now. It’s great to be back, and I’m ready to play to help the team win.”
Unfortunately, the Rockies lost another close game. The team has lost six consecutive games, the last five by two runs or fewer.
Asked if it was frustrating not to have their hard work rewarded with a victory, Schaeffer said, “Sure it’s frustrating, but it’s not debilitating. We are going out tomorrow just like we did today, and we know the tide is going to turn. We just know that. …
“Today, we definitely did not beat ourselves. The wins are in the margins. Tight ballgames are won in the margins. We haven’t gotten it done yet, but it’s coming.”
In other roster moves Friday, the Rockies selected the contract of outfielder Sam Hilliard from Triple-A Albuquerque, while optioning infielder Adael Amador to Triple-A and designating outfielder Nick Martini for assignment.