Bud Black says Desmond return could be "sooner than you think"

DENVER – It seems like every day now we are getting a little Ian Desmond update. The Colorado Rockies have been playing exceptionally well considering how many players they’ve had to put on the DL since the start of spring training, and it looks like they are finally getting close to being able to announce that one of them is back.

The two-time All-Star whom the Rockies added to their roster for the next five years (barring a trade) for $70 million has been the source of much debate considering how well his replacement, Mark Reynolds, has swung the bat and flashed the leather in his absence. But no baseball team every lost their season because of having too many talented players, and the Rockies are excited to welcome Desmond back, maybe as early as next Monday in San Diego the way manager Bud Black was talking before Thursday afternoon’s game.

“Desi is gonna go with us tonight,” he said. “He’s gonna go to Salt River tomorrow morning early and get some work in. Baseball stuff. He’s gonna hit. He’s gonna play in a game. He’s gonna get in the cage, he’s gonna get volume. Which is what he wants. He goes ‘I want volume, I want grounders I want flyballs, I want swings in a cage, I want at-bats in an extended game. Give it to me.’ So he’s ready for everything. He’ll do that Friday and Saturday. Sunday there’s no activity but put it this way, he’s getting real close, man. Closer than you might think.