LeMahieu reinstated, Valaika optioned to Triple-A

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies got their second baseman and oft-leadoff hitter back today from the disabled list, as they activated DJ LeMahieu. Pat Valaika has been optioned to Triple-A to make room on the 25-man roster.

LeMahieu was placed on the disabled list on April 30, three days after exiting the first game of the club’s road trip in the third inning with a hamstring injury. He will bat leadoff tonight against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Rockies’ first of a six-game homestand. He missed eight total games, and his activation comes after the minimum 10 days spent on the disabled list, despite some reports that he might have needed a couple more to get back to 100 percent.

While the Rockies won’t be distraught over the 5-2 record they’ve put up in LeMahieu’s absence, they are certainly glad to have the 2016 National League batting champion back. He’s been one of the team’s most productive batters this season, so far hitting .290. That is lower than normal for him, but slugging .505 on the strength of five home runs and eight doubles so far in 2018.

For a Rockies lineup that ranks in the bottom third in runs per game, adding the two-time All-Star back into the mix saves some sweat for Bud Black.

For Valaika, the option to Albuquerque is a disappointing one, after spending the entire 2017 season in MLB. In the offseason, we wrote how he would have the opportunity to take on a bigger role with the Rockies following the departure of Alexi Amarista, but Valaika has struggled mightily out of the gate. So far, he has hit an abysmal .103 and is reaching base in less than 20 percent of his at-bats. While Daniel Castro has not fared much better in his short stint — at .188 — the front office and Black decided he is the more valuable piece to backup LeMahieu for the time being.

Daniel Castro earned a spot on the 25-man roster in Valaika’s place by playing solid defense at second and throwing out some key base hits on the road trip, something that had eluded one of the best pinch-hitters in the game a year ago.

The Rockies and Angels game begins at 6:40, with LeMahieu taking his first cuts shortly after in the bottom of the first inning.