Nearly a month after going on the injured list with more back problems, Colorado Rockies veteran Kris Bryant has a new plan.
Bryant told reporters before Wednesday’s 8-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers that he’s decided to have an ablation procedure on his back. The former NL MVP flies to Los Angeles on Thursday, and the move follows an April diagnosis of chronic lumbar degenerative disk disease.
“It’s pretty intense,” Bryant said of the procedure.
“But it’s not a crazy recovery period,” Bryant continued, according to the Rockies’ official website. “They actually go into the bone and try to kill the nerves to the vertebrae.”
Colorado placed Bryant on the injured list back on April 14, his ninth IL stint since joining the Rockies in 2022.
Bryant expects to resume baseball activities shortly. However, the Rockies do not have a projected timetable for the four-time All-Star’s return, nor are they sure when he’ll begin a rehab assignment.
“I just told them, I want to do everything I can,” Bryant said. “So let’s do this. … Just keep putting needles and knives in my back. I’m OK with it. So I’ve had a lot of needles in my back the last two weeks.”
Although the 6-29 Rockies can use all the help they can get, Bryant isn’t exactly a magic elixir. The 33-year-old hit .154 with no home runs, an RBI, and a dreadful .400 OPS through 11 games. Injuries previously limited him to -1.1 bWAR and 159 games from 2022-24.
Bryant has three seasons and $81 million remaining on his contract. He also owns a full no-trade clause.
