Rockies Enjoy A Day Of Rest

The Rockies were off Tuesday, the first of two breaks in the spring game schedule. They will be back on the field Wednesday with the possibility that DH-outfielder Charlie Blackmon and catcher Eliaz Diaz will be back in the lineup.

Blackmon has been sidelined by recent back discomfort, and Diaz has been sidelined the last five games after feeling soreness in his right thigh.

— Elehuris Montero is making a statement in the spring that has talk of him opening the season playing first base or DH, which will lead to Kris Bryant shifting to the role of a DH/right fielder.

— Bryant, projected to move into the No. 2 slot in the batting order, unloaded a three-run home run off Erik Miller in the fourth inning.

“He got just underneath on a couple, and he got that last one,” said manager Bud Black. “That ball was well-struck. That' ball was well-struck to the big part of the park. That was out of any ballpark. That’s a confidence booster for sure.”

—Aaron Schunk, the Rockies second-round draft choice ub 2919 who slashed .290/.350/.461 at Triple-A Albuquerque last year, is in game as an invited player and make his present felt. He delivered a three-run double in the seventh inning Tuesday, and his 6-for-12 this spring.

“He’s more poised, more under control, more confident,” Black said. “He has been played loose, but yet there is an intensity, a focus. You need that combo, and he’s showing it on the field.”

— Righthanders Dakota Hudson, Ryan Felter and Peter Lamber, competing for the final two rotation spots, took turns on the mound Monday. Lambert worked two innings and was the only one of the three to not give up a run.

— Catcher Drew Romo, a first-round pick out of The Woodlands (Texas) High School in 2020, is drawing attention this spring. And among those impressed with the highly-regarded prospect was Kyle Freeland.

“He wants to learn, which is great,” Freeland said after making his first start of the spring. “That’s what you want to see out of our young prospects. They’re not afraid to come to a veteran guy and asked question — what there plan is, what they liked to do. Hats off (to Romo) to be able to have that recognition of, `I want to learn from these guys.’”