Colorado Rockies injury updates and news: C.J. Cron and Kris Bryant

The injury-ravaged Colorado Rockies have two pieces of good news when it comes to two of their veterans who could return from the injured list to strengthen the lineup in the coming days.

Colorado Rockies: The latest injury news and updates on C.J. Cron and Kris Bryant

Let’s start with Cron, who has been on the injured list since May 15 after suffering spasms in his back. The spasms coincided with what had been a tough May at the plate for the 33-year-old first baseman as he had slashed just .189/.289/.297 in 45 plate appearances over 11 games. Overall this season, Cron is slashing .228/.277/.426 but does have six home runs and 20 RBI.

Cron was activated during Colorado’s off day on Monday, ahead of the Rockies opening a three-game series at Coors Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. He will likely get the start at first base, a position that has been held down by a number of players in his absence, including Mike Moustakas, who was traded over the weekend to the Los Angeles Angels.

Meanwhile, Bryant is churning ahead toward a return to the Colorado lineup as well it seems. Placed on the injured list on June 1 (retroactive to May 31) with a left heel bruise, the 31-year-old Bryant has worked his way through the injury and was doing “full baseball activities,” including running the bases over the weekend, according to manager Bud Black.

The next step of Bryant’s journey back to the lineup begins at Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday night, according to MLB.com. Bryant, who has played right field in 37 games for the Rockies this season while serving as the team’s designated hitter in 12 others, will continue to test his foot in his rehab assignment and could potentially rejoin the Rockies before the team starts a five-game road trip to Houston and San Francisco before the All-Star break.