Rockies Activate Mickey Moniak from IL, Option Outfield Prospect

Moniak, 28, has been sidelined since May 22 due to right ankle tendinitis. He sustained the injury in a collision with the center-field wall on May 12 in Pittsburgh but managed to play nine more games before landing on the IL.

Before being sidelined, Moniak was on pace for his best season as a big leaguer. The former No. 1 overall pick slashed .280/.335/.607 with a .942 OPS over 43 games, tallying 12 home runs and 28 RBI. He finished a single shy of the cycle the day after crashing into the wall before falling into a 2-for-23 slump at the plate.

Moniak played three games with Albuquerque as part of his rehab assignment, going 1-for-13 with a double and three strikeouts. He notably made two highlight-reel catches near the outfield wall during Saturday’s rehab game. The left-handed hitter is not in Monday’s starting lineup against Red Sox southpaw Jake Bennett, though he is available off the bench.

Thompson, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Rockies’ No. 15 prospect, hit .232/.312/.377 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 27 big league games after earning his first call-up on May 15. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger did not get regular at-bats in Colorado but will now step back into an everyday role at the Triple-A level, where he owns a .970 OPS in 38 games this season.

Moniak’s return is just the start for Colorado. Two other injured outfielders — Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck — participated in pregame drills at Coors Field on Saturday and are expected to begin rehab assignments soon. If all goes well, both could rejoin the Rockies within the next couple of weeks.