Just when it seemed the presence of Mr. Barrels would be missing on the 2019 Colorado Rockies, an unforseen injury has brought him back with his brothers.

After a delayed start to 2018 that limited Daniel Murphy to 91 games because of knee surgery, the first baseman will now deal with his first stint on the Injured List with Colorado due to a fractured index finger that puts him on the shelf for 4-6 weeks.

In his stead, infielder Pat Valaika takes Murphy’s place on the 25-man roster while the remaining bench players split up starts over the first base vacancy and the newly available at bats in the lineup.  

This spring, Valaika did everything he could to earn a spot on the 25-man roster.

Batting .286 (14-for-49) with 4 homers and 13 runs batted in, Valaika was beat out for the opening starting second base job by Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson.

With one option remaining to the minors, Colorado was able to send him down to Albuquerque in order to place 1B/INF Mark Reynolds on the 25-man roster.

Though he made the 2018 Opening Day roster, Valaika went back-and-forth between Triple-A and the Rockies all season long, struggling to settle into the 2017 rhythm when he was an invaluable bench piece, leading all MLB pinch-hitters in RBI (16), runs (12), doubles (8), extra-base hits (12) and tying for the most pinch hit homers (4).

With abilities to play adequate defense all around the diamond  – he’s played 30 or more games at 2B, 3B, and SS, in addition to 20 games at 1B – he’ll only add to Bud Black’s starting lineup options and flexibility late in the game with double-switches.

Valaika will get a spot start on occasion to keep him sharp, but the majority of playing time in Murphy’s absence should go to primarily to Reynolds and Hampson, with a small chance that Raimel Tapia gets some time in the outfield with Ian Desmond moving back to first base on the rare occasion.