Colorado Rockies injury news: An update on C.J. Cron

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies are in a power slump at the moment and it doesn’t appear that their leading home run hitter is coming off the injured list as soon as was originally hoped.

Colorado Rockies give injury update on C.J. Cron

Cron went on the injured list on May 15 with back spasms after exiting the May 14 contest against the Philadelphia Phillies after just two at-bats. Cron is hitting just .228/.277/.426 on the season, but has a team-leading six home runs. As a team, the Colorado Rockies have hit 37 home runs in 47 games this season, tying them for 26th with the Detroit Tigers among MLB’s 30 teams in home runs hit.

Rockies manager Bud Black was initially optimistic that Cron would be back in the lineup before Memorial Day. However, the tone changed on Monday with the injury update provided by the skipper.

“C.J. is moving around better. We had hoped that maybe it would be a 10-day stint and he’d be back on the 11th (day) but right now it doesn’t look that way,” Black said. “He’s still a little sore. Movements in the weight room and in the training room, he’s progressing, but the quick 10-day turnaround is probably not going to happen.”

Cron started the season on fire, earning the campaign’s first National League Player of the Week honor after hitting .467 with a pair of doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the first four games. However, Cron’s hot start dissipated quickly. He finished April slashing just .207/.223/.380 and posted a .189/.289/.297 slash line in 37 at-bats prior to his injury. Additionally, Cron has not yet registered a home run in May.

In Cron’s absence, the Rockies have turned to Michael Toglia and Mike Moustakas at first base. Colorado’s combined minus-1.0 bWAR at first base is tied with the Cleveland Guardians for 27th among MLB teams.