The look on German Marquez’s face told the story.
“Yeah, I’m bummed,” a downcast Marquez said Thursday morning in the Rockies clubhouse after the team decided to shut him down for the rest of the season because of a stress reaction on his elbow.
That means the 2021 All-Star has essentially lost two consecutive seasons of competition.
“It’s hard,” the 29-year-old continued. “I came back and pitched just one game, and now, to have to go back on the (injured list), it’s frustrating. But it is what it is. I’ll keep doing my thing and come back at 100%.”
Although Marquez underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023, the Rockies signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract extension in September to keep him in the fold through 2025.
Marquez’s rehab from surgery went well, and he was on schedule. He pitched against the Mets in New York on July 14, going four innings and allowing three runs on five hits (including a homer), with four walks and three strikeouts.
The right-hander rewrote the Rockies’ record book during that game with his 986th career strikeout, surpassing the previous mark held by Jorge De La Rosa (983).
However, Marquez experienced pain in his elbow in the days following and has not pitched in a game since.
Manager Bud Black said the injury is a stress reaction to the olecranon in Marquez’s elbow. The olecranon is the bony tip of the elbow, and pain is typically caused by overuse. According to the National Institute of Health, the injury is commonly found in athletes, such as baseball players, who apply extreme pressure on the elbow.
Black said he believes Marquez will recover in about 6-8 weeks and will be able to have a full offseason of workouts.
“The (elbow) ligament is fine,” Black said. “But it’s a stress reaction injury that is going to require time. The bone has to heal.”
Black understands Marquez’s frustration.
“He’s bummed. He wants to pitch,” Black said. “He was tracking so well during the rehab process.”
Black noted, however, that not having Tommy John surgery doesn’t guarantee that a pitcher will come back at 100%.
“It’s not all seamless, all of the time, as we know,” Black said. “The big picture, and the stats, tell you that 75-80% come back and pitch, but 20-25% don’t come back.
“You think, ‘I’ll have Tommy John and (I’m going) to be there.’ No, that’s not the case.”
In parts of nine seasons with the Rockies, Marquez is 65-56 with a 4.42 ERA. However, he’s made only five starts over the last two seasons.
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