As the Colorado Rockies prepared to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers stadium for the first time this season, they will do so without their primary designated hitter. On Monday it was announced that Kris Bryant was placed on the 10-day injured list with lumbar degenerative disk disease. Through his first 11 games in 2025, he has slashed just  .154/.195/.205 with no home runs, drawing 10 starts as the DH.

It is yet another setback in the ill-fated union between the Rockies and the seven-year, $182 million contract with Bryant signed back in 2022. Injuries have been a hindrance for the former NL MVP in his four seasons with Colorado as he has appeared in just 170 games and hasn’t played more than 80 games in a season. Through four seasons he is slashing .244/.324/.370 with 17 home runs, 29 doubles, and 61 RBI.

The main cause of his offensive issues has been a matter of not being able to stay on the field. During his time in Colorado since 2022, he has been placed on the IL nine times now to address ailments such as a heel bruise, finger fracture and rib contusion, alongside the persistent back issues that flared up in 2022.

Bryant and the Rockies talked extensively about their efforts to address his back in the offseason. Core exercises were the main prescription to help alleviate some of the pressure off of his slipping disks in his back and the lumbar problems. Entering spring training, Bryant claimed to be feeling good but he endured a brutal camp, not exactly impacting the ball and putting up minuscule numbers. The bad looks in spring training carried over into the regular season and he’s been just another cog in the machine that is the Rockies struggling offense.

It’s unclear what the treatment plan will be for Bryant now and what his future with the Rockies looks like going forward. The team is off to an MLB-worst 3-12 record entering Monday night. The team has scored the fewest runs in baseball and are coming off a series in which they were swept by the San Diego Padres and were shut out in all three games. It’s entirely possible this could mark the end of Bryant’s time as a Rockie.

The problem is the Rockies would have to eat the roughly $108 million owed (including 2025) to Bryant at $27 million annually. The Rockies could try to work out an adjustment to the contract to spread the money out if it comes to his retirement or some other matter, but that’s a tough negotiation to have, especially with a client of Scott Boras.

Still, manager Bud Black did tell reporters that Bryant is expected to return after the 10-day IL stint, adding that it’s something they will have to keep an eye on and manage throughout the season.

For now, the stumbling Rockies will look to the youth and keep Bryant in the rearview mirror, hoping by some miracle his back could get better. To replace Bryant the team is calling up catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A Albuquerque. Fulford has been off to a hot start in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. In 12 games he’s batting .395/.477/.868 with five home runs along with 12 strikeouts and five walks. His presence could mean more time for Hunter Goodman to slot into the DH spot more regularly or the Rockies will use it as the rotating position to cycle players through. Kyle Farmer is slated to start as the DH on Monday.