Michael Toglia, the Rockies’ 2019 first-round draft pick, has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The 25-year-old has struggled this season, batting just .106/.143/.362 with four home runs and a 40.8% strikeout rate.
Hunter Goodman, a 24-year-old utility player, has been recalled from Triple-A to take Toglia’s place on the 26-man roster. Goodman has impressed at Triple-A this season, hitting .298/.352/.690 with seven home runs and a 20.9% strikeout rate.
Manager Bud Black said the Rockies hope that sending Toglia down will allow him to “take a step back and sort of regroup.”
“He’s a power hitter, so there’s got to be a slugging percentage in there, and there has to be an on-base component in there, too,” Black said. “The strikeout rate and the on-base rate kind of go hand in hand. This year, specifically, there is a big gap there. He’s walked one time.”
Goodman has played primarily corner outfield and first base in the minors, but he can also fill in at catcher. The Rockies are comfortable putting Goodman behind the plate if veterans Elias Diaz and Jacob Stallings need a break.
“This year, we really put our eyes on Goodman and we said, ‘Hey, this guy can catch,’ ” Black said. “We caught him more in spring training this year than last. And down at Triple-A, he’s caught well. He’s done a good job. So we have no problem catching him in the major leagues.”
Veteran first baseman/right fielder Kris Bryant, who is out with a low-back strain, was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, but he’s still not close to playing baseball again. Bryant is working in the weight room, doing rehab exercises, and getting treatment but not doing any baseball-related activities.
Left fielder Nolan Jones said his back feels “much better” than it did Tuesday night, but he’s still a number of days away from returning to the field. Jones departed Tuesday’s game after a sixth-inning at-bat when his lower back locked up.
