GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies infielder and pinch-hit specialist Pat Valaika's gray pants were ripped pretty good Wednesday morning. But his left oblique muscle was strong and intact after he appeared in a simulated game in Scottsdale, and that's good news that came sooner than expected.
Valaika, who set a Major League rookie record (since the rookie rule was adopted in 1958) with 16 pinch-hit RBIs last year, appeared in just three spring games before the injury. With the trickiness of such injuries, his availability for Opening Day has been in question.
By going 1-for-3 (with a hit off lefty setup man Jake McGee, who was doing his work there) and playing third base -- making one pants-ripping fielding play -- in his first action since the injury, Valaika has a realistic possibility of starting the season with the Rockies.