SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rockies' Mark Reynolds appreciates his new opportunity but feels the pain of first baseman Ian Desmond, who will have surgery after suffering a fracture in his left hand when hit with a pitch Sunday afternoon.
Last season, Reynolds, 33, batted .282 with a .356 on-base percentage in 118 games of a season twice interrupted with hand fractures. First was a broken hamate bone, which cost him most of August. Next was a left hand fracture when he was hit with a pitch on Sept. 18, which ended his season.
Unable to land a Major League contract, Reynolds re-signed with the Rockies as a non-roster invitee seeking a utility role, with part of the job being to back up Desmond, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract.