Rockies place Kris Bryant on injured list for third time this year

The Rockies’ return on investment on Kris Bryant continues to dwindle.

Colorado placed the often-hurt Bryant on the 10-day injured list on Monday for the third time this season, this time with a back strain as the outfielder/first baseman’s arthritic back continues to be an issue.

Bryant, who missed 31 games in April/May with a back strain and then 43 games in June/July with a rib/oblique issue, is batting .218 with two homers, a .301 slugging and -0.7 WAR in 2024.

The Rockies’ highest-paid player with a $28 million salary this year, Bryant is under contract on a seven-year, $182 million deal through 2028. Colorado’s largest free-agent contract in club history has been a bust to this point, as Bryant’s first two seasons in LoDo were also hampered by injuries. He’s played just 36% of the Rockies’ games while in purple pinstripes with 17 total homers.

Bryant’s presence on the roster could soon become an albatross, especially with the Rockies trying to groom younger players at first base (Michael Toglia) and in the corner outfield (Hunter Goodman, and Jordan Beck until he got hurt) amid their rebuild.

In corresponding roster moves on Monday, Colorado recalled Beck from Triple-A Albuquerque as well as right-hander Bradley Blalock from Double-A Hartford.

The rookie Beck hasn’t played in the majors since breaking his hand while diving for a ball on May 25 at Coors Field, but has been hitting well with the Isotopes since getting healthy again. Blalock appeared in one game for the Brewers earlier this season, and has a 6.17 ERA in two starts with Hartford. He is set to start on Monday against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, his first MLB start.