27-year old switch-hitting CF Dexter Fowler was awesome in April for the Rockies, but he has slowed down considerably with the bat so far in May.  Fowler has played in 18 games so far in May and he is 17 of 72 (.236 avg, .563 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  Fowler has now played in 44 games overall this year for the Rockies and he is 46 for 167 (.275 avg, .833 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 8 homers, 18 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.  The Rockies hope that Fowler can snap out of his funk at the plate in the near future.

The Rockies have sent 24-year old righty swinging 2B Josh Rutledge to AAA.  He played in 43 games for the Rockies this year and he was 38 for 157 (.242 avg, .655 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 5 homers, 13 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  24-year old righty swinging D.J. LaMahieu will take over as the starting 2B for the Rockies.  He has played in 7 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 7 for 17 (.412 avg, .974 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  Rutledge could work his way back to Denver if he plays well in the minors, but he better hope that LaMahieu doesn’t stake his claim to the starting 2B job in the mean time.

Righty swinging 2B/OF Terry Shumpert wasn’t much of a hitter until he got to Colorado in 1999.  The light air helped him have a career year in 1999.  Shumpert played in 92 games for the Rockies in 1999 and he was 91 of 262 (.347 avg, .997 OPS) with 58 runs scored, 10 homers, 37 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.  Shumpert played in 450 games in his five years with the Rockies and he was 290 of 1,027 (.282 avg, .812 OPS) with 180 runs scored, 30 homers, 124 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.  Shumpert had the best years of his major league career with the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies have designated 27-year old lefty swinging infielder Reid Brignac for assignment.  Brignac played in 29 games for the Rockies this year and he was 12 for 48 (.250 avg, .669 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs.  Brignac has now played in 285 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 164 of 719 (.228 avg, .591 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 11 homers, 73 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Brignac isn’t likely to clear waivers, so the Rockies should try to deal him.

The Rockies have placed 32-year old lefty starting pitcher Jeff Francis on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 15th, due to a strained left groin.  Francis has pitched in 8 games (all starts) for the Rockies so far this year and he is 2-3 with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.  Francis has given up 43 hits (6 homers) and 14 walks while whiffing 21 batters in his first 36 innings so far this year, which isn’t too good.  The Rockies will likely let Francis rest until he’s almost completely healthy, because he has not pitched too well in 2013.

26-year old righty reliever Edmer Escalona has been outstanding out of the pen for the Rockies so far in 2013.  He has pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Rockies so far this year and he is 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP.  He has given up only 16 hits and 4 walks while whiffing 20 batters in his first 23 1/3 innings this year, as he has been impressive.  Escalona has now pitched in 54 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 1-2 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.  It’s looking like Escalona will have a real shot of having his first full season in the majors in 2013.

The Rockies have signed 27-year old righty starter/reliever Sean Gallagher to a minor league deal.  Gallagher pitched in 4 games (all starts) in Independent ball this year and he was 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP.  Gallagher last pitched in the majors back in 2010 for the Padres and Pirates.  He has pitched in 91 games (23 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 10-10 with 1 save, a 5.64 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.  Gallagher might get back to the show if he pitches well in the minors for the Rockies.

The Rockies have placed 34-year old righty swinging RF Michael Cuddyer on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 9th, due to an inflamed cervical disc.  Cuddyer has played in 31 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 38 for 119 (.319 avg, .963 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 7 homers, 23 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  The Rockies have called up 26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Charlie Blackmon to replace Cuddyer on the active roster.  Blackmon played in 31 games in AAA-ball this year for the Rockies and he was 37 for 110 (.336 avg, .997 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 3 homers, 21 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.  Blackmon has played in 69 games in his first two years with the Rockies and he is 57 of 211 (.270 avg, .659 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 3 homers, 17 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  Blackmon will do a solid job with the Rockies, but they are going to miss Cuddyer’s power bat.

19-year old lefty swinging outfielder David Dahl came into this season as the Rockies’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America.  Dahl has played in 10 games in A-ball so far this year and he is 11 for 40 (.275 avg, .735 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 0 homers, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  Dahl has now played in 77 games in his first two years in the minors and he is 117 of 320 (.366 avg, 1.009 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 9 homers, 64 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.  The Rockies are likely going to take things slowly with Dahl moving forward, but he does have a huge upside.

28-year old righty swinging SS Troy Tulowitzki and 34-year old righty swinging RF Michael Cuddyer are off to smoking hot starts with the bats in 2013 for the Rockies.  The Rockies need both of these guys to stay healthy if they are going to be a legit contender in the N.L. West.  Tulowitzki played in only 47 games for the Rockies last year and he was 52 of 181 (.287 avg, .846 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 8 homers, 27 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.  He has already played in 30 games so far this year and he is 32 for 92 (.348 avg, 1.095 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 7 homers and 28 RBIs.  He has also walked more times (15) than he has whiffed (14) so far this year, as he is locked in at the plate right now and the Rockies hope he stays hot.  Cuddyer only played in 104 games for the Rockies last year and he was 93 of 358 (.260 avg, .806 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 16 homers, 58 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Cuddyer has played in 31 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 38 for 119 (.319 avg, .963 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 7 homers, 23 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.