Joe isn't included in the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, but he's considered good to go after being hit on the left hand by a pitch in Sunday's 8-1 loss to Atlanta, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
According to Stumpf, the pitch that hit Joe actually struck him on the hand guard, so his removal from Sunday's contest was strictly for precautionary purposes. Joe may enter the lineup in Tuesday's spring finale versus Minnesota, but even if he doesn't, he'll be in line for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster as a reserve corner outfielder/first baseman.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Removal deemed precautionary
Rotowire
Joe is considered day-to-day after he was removed for precautionary reasons in the sixth inning of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta after being hit in the left hand by a pitch, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Joe singled and flew out in his two plate appearances before being hit in the hand during his final trip to the dish of the afternoon. Though Joe may be dealing with some residual bruising or soreness to his hand, de los Santos' report suggesting that the 30-year-old's removal was precautionary indicates that he isn't dealing with any sort of structural damage. Joe will look to return to action for at least one of Pirates' final two spring training games Monday or Tuesday to ensure his availability for Opening Day.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Exits after being hit by pitch
Rotowire
Joe was removed in the sixth inning of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta after being struck in the hand by a pitch, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Joe reached base twice in his three plate appearances on the day, with the 30-year-old first getting aboard on a base hit in the fourth inning. He was lifted for a pinch runner immediately after getting hit by the pitch, and he'll presumably be examined in the locker room before the Pirates reveal whether his removal was precautionary or the result of any major injury to his hand. Joe is vying for a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster as a short-side platoon option in the corner outfield or at designated hitter or first base.
Joe could make the Pirates' Opening Day roster due to his ability to serve as a fourth outfielder as well as a backup first baseman, Kevin Gorman of Pittsburgh Tribune-Live reports.
Joe earned a career-high 467 plate appearances in 2022, the majority of which came at the corner outfield spots. He also appeared at first base for 21 games. Even with that versatility, his fit in Pittsburgh is unclear as the Pirates also brought in Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi over the winter. Despite perhaps facing long odds for a significant role, Joe has helped his case this spring by putting together a respectable .258/.324/.387 line with five extra-base hits across 31 at-bats in the Grapefruit League.
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Pirates' Connor Joe: Dealt to Pirates
Rotowire
Joe was traded from the Rockies to the Pirates on Sunday in exchange for pitching prospect Nick Garcia.
A 30-year-old capable of playing first base and the outfield corners, Joe was quite productive (.285/.379/.469 slash line) in a small sample in 2021 and then fell off last season. He has been roughly league average (99 wRC+) for his career against lefties and below average (89 wRC+) against same-handed pitchers, so Joe could operate on the short side of a platoon.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Joe was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right serratus strain Thursday, retroactive to Sept. 26.
Joe took on a depth role for the Rockies over the last month, and he's now dealing with a shoulder issue that will sideline him for the final week of the regular season. The 30-year-old slashed .238/.338/.359 with seven homers, 56 runs, 28 RBI and six steals over 111 games in 2022.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Goes deep Sunday
Rotowire
Joe went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cubs.
Joe's playing time has almost completely dried up in September, but he's been in the lineup for two of the last three games. His homer Sunday was his first since Aug. 19, though he saw just 16 at-bats across seven games in that span. It was his seventh homer of the year to go with 27 RBI, 54 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .241/.343/.362 slash line across 458 plate appearances. The uptick in playing time for Joe is likely due to Michael Toglia being mired in an 0-for-18 slump.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Falling out of favor
Rotowire
Joe has been out of the lineup for each of Colorado's last six games.
Joe had been losing out on playing time before the promotion of Michael Toglia, even with Kris Bryant (foot) and Yonathan Daza (shoulder) sidelined. The Rockies also seem inclined to give Sean Bouchard a regular chance in the lineup, so Joe appears to face an uphill battle to get regular plate appearances to close the season.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Absent from lineup Wednesday
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Joe isn't starting Wednesday against Atlanta.
Joe remains out of the starting nine for a fourth consecutive game. Sean Bouchard will take over in left field and bat eighth.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Homers amid cold stretch
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Joe went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a 7-4 win over the Giants on Friday.
Joe went deep off Giants starter Alex Wood for his sixth home run of the season. The long ball comes amidst a terrible drought for Joe. He was 4-for-47 over his previous 14 games with a slash line of .085/.140/.149. The 30-year-old outfielder's two-hit game was his first since July 15.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Back on bench against righty
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Joe is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Joe went 1-for-11 with two walks and two runs while starting in each of the Rockies' past three contests, but Colorado faced left-handed pitchers on each occasion. With right-hander Adam Wainwright on the bump for St. Louis in the series finale, the righty-hitting Joe will retreat to the bench. Joe looks like he'll be stuck in a short-side platoon role with Sam Hilliard for the foreseeable future.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Starts second straight game
Rotowire
Joe went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored Tuesday against the Cardinals.
Joe was out of the lineup for seven consecutive games after appearing to fall out of favor in Colorado. However, he's now started consecutive contests -- both against lefties -- and reached base three times in nine plate appearances in that span. Since the All-Star break, however, Joe has only four hits across 41 at-bats, and he appears to be limited to a short-side platoon role for the time being.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Sitting in fourth straight
Rotowire
Joe is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
The righty-hitting Joe finds himself on the bench for his fourth consecutive contest, and his absence from the lineup against a lefty (Jose Quintana) suggests that Rockies manager Bud Black may not even view the 29-year-old as a short-side platoon bat at this point. Yonathan Daza, Elehuris Montero and Sam Hilliard should continue to benefit from more playing time while Joe's role is de-emphasized.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Joe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Arizona.
Joe is 3-for-38 across his past 10 games and will take a seat Sunday for the third time in Colorado's last four contests. Sam Hilliard will start in left field in the series finale versus the Diamondbacks.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Takes seat Thursday
Rotowire
Joe isn't starting Thursday against the Padres.
Joe has lost out on some playing time recently, and he'll be on the bench for the fourth time in the last seven games. Charlie Blackmon will shift to right field while Sam Hilliard starts in left.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Riding pine Saturday
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Joe isn't starting Saturday against the Dodgers.
Joe is getting a day off after he went 0-for-7 with a strikeout over the last two games. Charlie Blackmon is shifting to right field while Yonathan Daza enters the lineup in left.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Hitless in return
Rotowire
Joe went 0-for-4 in Thursday's 13-0 loss to the Dodgers.
Joe missed three games with general soreness after a diving attempt in the outfield Sunday. His lack of offense was indicative of the Rockies as a whole Thursday, as they mustered seven hits, with Brendan Rodgers accounting for four of them. Joe has gone 1-for-20 in his last five contests, causing his season slash line to slip to .254/.359/.373 in 88 games overall.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Returning to action Thursday
Rotowire
Joe (soreness) is starting at first base and batting leadoff Thursday against the Dodgers.
Joe has been out of the lineup after some general soreness cropped up from a diving attempt in the outfield Sunday, but he'll rejoin the starting nine Thursday and hit atop the order. The 29-year-old has struggled through 18 games in July with a .175/.321/.286 slash line, zero home runs, eight RBI, 11 runs and two stolen bases.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Still not starting
Rotowire
Joe (soreness) isn't starting Wednesday against the White Sox.
Joe has missed the last two games due to general soreness, but he was available off the bench Tuesday. Although he didn't appear in Tuesday's matchup, it wouldn't be surprising to see him available in a depth capacity once again Wednesday. Charlie Blackmon is shifting to right field while Yonathan Daza draws the start in left.
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Rockies' Connor Joe: Available off bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Joe (soreness) isn't in the lineup against the White Sox on Tuesday but is expected to be available off the bench, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
Joe is dealing with some general soreness after a diving attempt in the outfield Sunday and will be out of the starting nine Tuesday for a second straight game, though he'll be available as a reserve. The 29-year-old should rejoin the lineup within the next day or two.
