DENVER – Sunday morning before their 1:10 pm ballgame, the Colorado Rockies placed closer Scott Oberg on the 10-day Injured List with a blood clot in his right arm, retroactive Saturday, August 17.
“Yesterday afternoon we became aware of Scott’s situation,” manager Bud Black said of the issue with Oberg before a crowd of reporters in the Rockies dugout. “His arm felt heavy and just didn’t feel normal.”
“The trainers came to me and said we have a potential situation with Scott,” Black shared. “He got a work up yesterday at the hospital early in the afternoon. Then word got back to the clubhouse that he had a blood clot. So, he stayed in the hospital through the early evening into the night. Finally, had a procedure to dissolve the clot which took place last night.”
Formally known as axillary artery thrombosis, the injury effectively brings a close to Oberg’s outstanding season, the latest bit of bad news for a Colorado club that has also been without David Dahl since August 3 because of a high ankle sprain.
As of Sunday morning, Oberg remained at the hospital recuperating from the procedure.
“We’ve had texts. He seems fine. He texted and said the procedure – from what the doctors told him – went fine.”
The scariest bit is that it isn’t the first issue with a blood clot. Three seasons ago, at nearly the same point in the season, Oberg hit the injury list on August 22. Four days later, he was placed on the 60-Day IL, officially ending his season.
Black was disheartened when reminded of the previous blood clot. “I would think it’s concerning,” he said. “I can’t (qualify it further than that).”
After the game, Oberg was on the mind of the entire clubhouse, even after a thrilling walk-off win in extra innings.
“We love Oberg,” Nolan Arenado said of the 29-year-old. “He’s had an unbelievable year. Just to see him transform into such a good baseball player and good pitcher is so cool to see. You never want to see anyone in pain or with something scary like that – it’s happened before, which is scary, too.”
Carlos Estévez was equally quick to heap praise upon the prized reliever. “How well he was doing and also the type of person he is… come on. How does stuff happen to a guy like that? We never know. Good thing is that he’s alright now. Hopefully, he gets better quick.”
This season, Oberg has emerged as a dominant back-of-the-bullpen threat for Colorado, even taking over for Wade Davis as closer and recording five saves. Ranking fifth among NL relievers with a 2.25 ERA in 2019, GM Jeff Bridich received copious amounts of phone calls about the former University of Connecticut fireman.
Oberg’s success out of the bullpen actually extends beyond this year. Since being reinstated from the 10-day IL on June 27, 2018, he’s posted a 13-2 record and 2.04 ERA, the second-lowest mark by a reliever in the Senior Circuit behind only Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez.
Though Davis was reinstated as the closer and promptly blew his first save opportunity on Sunday, the loss of any stakeless baseball game is inconsequential to Oberg’s sudden loss of good health.
“We love that guy,” Arenado said. “He’s a great teammate, hard worker. We know he’ll be back.”
