Scott Oberg, still out indefinitely, taking on expanded role in Rockies’ scouting and player development departments

Scott Oberg might never pitch again, but he’s got another career in baseball waiting for him if he wants it.

The Rockies right-hander, who has not pitched since 2019 because of repeated blood clot issues, is on Colorado’s 40-man roster and the 60-day injured list. He remains out indefinitely, but since the regular season started Oberg’s taken on a special assignment role for the club’s scouting and player development departments.

Oberg’s focuses include analyzing film, serving as a consultant to his fellow pitchers, and traveling to scout Colorado’s minor league teams. It’s an expanded scouting/coaching role built off last season, when the former closer spent time helping the Rockies’ front office prepare for the draft.

“Considering I haven’t played in a while, I’m trying to look at the game through a different lens,” Oberg said. “Seeing where I can help guys out, seeing where I can fill needs (for the coaching staff).”

The right-hander still isn’t throwing and says he has “no idea” if and when he’ll be medically cleared to give baseball another go. A 15th-round pick from UConn who emerged as a bullpen stabilizer in 2018 and ’19, Oberg posted a 3.85 career ERA in 259 games for Colorado.

The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $13 million extension in December 2019, just a few months after his season was cut short by a blood clot. Doctors and the Rockies deemed him healthy, but Oberg missed all of 2020 with another blood clot and then had a fourth clot last year during spring training.

“I’m just seeing the doctors (bi-weekly), monitoring, making sure everything is going the way that it should,” Oberg said. “It’s still the approach of, ‘Hey, we’re going to be super conservative with this,’ and make sure my health is the No. 1 priority moving forward.”

In addition to taking on special projects for the Rockies, Oberg is also working on his master’s degree in sports management from Georgetown. Rockies pitching coach Darryl Scott said Oberg is handling his new role with the club, and the uncertainty about his future on the field, “exceptionally well.”

“It’s a hard thing to balance, because it’s not what he wants to be doing (instead of pitching), but he knows that this could be his future as well,” Scott said. “He could do whatever the heck he wants in this game in the future, and that’s the beauty of his current (adversity). As the team’s player’s union rep, he has really good respect from the players, the coaches and the front office… He’s in a very unique position.”

Oberg is under contract through the rest of this year, with an $8 million club option for 2023. If he’s still not cleared to pitch by then, Colorado would likely decline that option, setting Oberg up for free agency or retirement/a possible transition to another baseball career.

Buddy on Baker. After Dusty Baker became the 12th manager in MLB history to win 2,000 games with the Astros’ victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night, Bud Black took a moment Wednesday to tip his cap to his former skipper.

“I love Dusty Baker — he’s been a great influence on my career,” Black said. “On the back end of my playing career, then when I got into coaching and managing, he was always a great sounding board for me. He’s a Hall of Fame manager in my mind.”

Black, then a veteran left-hander, was on the Giants’ roster when Baker earned his first win on April 6, 1993. The Rockies’ manager said he took several coaching traits from Baker, who is also the first Black manager to reach the 2,000-win milestone.

“As a player you always felt like he was a teammate, like he was in there with you in the trenches and in the fight with you,” Black said. “I always respect that and I felt that, and try to (emulate that).”

Daniel Bard’s giveback. The Rockies’ right-handed reliever announced that for every strikeout he gets this year, he’ll donate $300 to local non-profit “Fill the Void: Amp the Cause to End Hunger.”

The Colorado Rockies foundation is matching those donations, and with 11 strikeouts entering Wednesday, Bard’s donated $3,300 with a $3,300 match by the Rockies. Bard’s non-profit of choice is “dedicated to improving the lives of children and families in Colorado,” and works with various entities “to identify and assist individuals and families with food insecurities.”

“You get into this game because it’s fun and you’re good at it, then you realize you have a chance to make a career out of it, and once that’s happened, it’s like, ‘What can I do with this that’s beyond just me and my family?’” Bard said. “That’s where this came about.”

Minor league awards. Ezequiel Tovar continues his ascent as the organization’s hottest prospect, as the Hartford Yard Goats shortstop was named the Double-A Eastern League player of the month after slashing .333/.422/.639 with five doubles, one triple, five homers, 14 RBIs and seven steals in 19 games. A standout in big-league spring training in March, Tovar is now one of the organization’s premier prospects along with outfielder Zac Veen, first baseman Michael Toglia and catcher Drew Romo.

Romo also earned a nod for a productive start to 2022, as he was named the Northwest League High-A player of the month. In 20 games for the Spokane Indians, Romo slashed .342/.384/.500 with two homers, four doubles and 14 RBIs.

Kris Bryant update. The Rockies’ left fielder, who has been on the 10-day injured list since April 29 with a lower back strain, is throwing again but has not yet resumed hitting. Bryant is hitting .281 with no homers and four RBIs through 15 games. He’s eligible to come off the injured list on Friday for the Rockies’ road trip opener in Arizona.

On DeckNationals RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 6.75) at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-1, 3.66)1:10 p.m. Thursday, Coors Field TV: ATTRMRadio: 850 AM/94.1 FM

Senzatela got tagged up for five runs in five innings on April 23 in Detroit, but bounced back in his last outing with his first quality start of 2022. He held the Reds to one run in six-plus innings in a win. He’s pitched six or more innings in 16 of his last 21 starts. Senzatela has a 6.75 ERA in three games (one start) against the Nationals. Meanwhile, Sanchez is a veteran who spent his first year in the National League last year with the Giants. He’s struggled through his first couple of starts, but the Rockies who have faced him are hitting a collective .165.

Trending: Where did the wheels go? After ranking in the middle of baseball in steals last year (76 steals/15th), the Rockies’ four stolen bases are the fewest in the National League entering Wednesday.

At issue: So much for the bullpen’s hot start in April. After posting an MLB-best 0.68 ERA through the first 26.2 innings of work, the bullpen’s ERA has ballooned to a league-worst 4.85 entering Wednesday.

Pitching probables

Friday: Rockies RHP Chad Kuhl (3-0, 1.90) at Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (2-1, 1.27), 7:40 p.m., ATTRMSaturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-3, 4.85) at Diamondbacks RHP Zach Davies (1-1, 4.24), 6:10 p.m., ATTRMSunday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (0-2, 6.92) at Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-0, 1.27), 2:10 p.m., ATTRM