Colorado Rockies activate Gerardo Parra, option Mike Tauchman

DENVER – Colorado Rockies outfielder Gerardo Parra is back after missing nearly a month with a right quad strain. To active Parra from the disabled list, the Rockies optioned the recently called-up Mike Tauchman.

Last season Parra hit the DL on June 17, about 10 days later than this season and the Rockies went 23-23 when he was shelved. This season Parra hit the DL on June 7 and the team has gone 13-15 over that stretch of play.

Raimel Tapia has taken over the starting job with both Parra, for a moment Carlos Gonzalez and now Ian Desmond on the DL. Tapia has succeeded and it will be interesting to see how the Rockies use Parra.

Parra played first base for a time last season and played the position during his three game rehab stint. Bud Black hinted that the Rockies were looking to get Mark Reynolds off of his feet in the near future so Parra may be playing first with Desmond not coming back until next Friday.

This season Parra is slashing .318/.348/.480 with 28 RBI, but he was 17-for-his-last-30 at the plate before he came up limping in early June.

Tauchman was called up the day after Gonzalez hit the DL and made his MLB debut. His biggest impact thus far was misplay in left field that badly hurt the club as a close game derailed last week in Arizona. He three times walked and nabbed two hits in his first 12 big league plate. The 26-year-old third round draft pick was having a monster year at Triple-A.