Rockies report: Closer Fuentes rejoins Rockies

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 29, 2008 at 5:27 p.m.

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SAN DIEGO — Rockies closer Brian Fuentes returned to the Rockies on Friday and pitched the ninth inning against the Padres.

Fuentes had been placed on the bereavement list Tuesday but needed only the minimum three days.

Though he didn't want to discuss the details, Fuentes said it was a health issue involving his 1-year-old son, Giovanni Paolo, who is doing fine.

NO WEATHERS

Right-handed reliever Casey Weathers, the Rockies' No. 1 draft pick in 2007, won't be among the Sept. 1 call ups, manager Clint Hurdle said. Instead he will pitch in the Arizona Fall League, where Weathers will have a more prominent role. "For his development that is more important than being up here in (an auxiliary) role," Hurdle said.

The Rockies will, however, bring up several starting pitchers, most likely Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds and Franklin Morales, to protect from situations they faced a few years ago when they needed pitching in late September and brought in players who had been home for several weeks and weren't in shape.

"That definitely spiked our attention," Hurdle said.

ETC.

Left-hander Kenneth Durst was selected the top left-handed pitcher in the short-season Class A Northwest League, and outfielder Charlie Blackmon, also playing for Tri-City, was selected to the Northwest League All-Star team. Blackmon was the Rockies' second- round pick in June out of Georgia Tech. Durst was a 15th-round pick out of the University of West Virginia in 2007. . . . The Padres juggled their roster Friday, placing outfielder Scott Hariston on the disabled list with a torn ligament in his left thumb that will require surgery, sending right-handed pitcher Josh Banks to Triple-A Portland and losing left-handed pitcher Wil Ledezma on a waiver claim to Arizona. The Padres called up righty Josh Geer, who starts tonight, righty Cla Meredith and outfielder Will Venable. Will is the son of former big-league player Max Venable, and was drafted by the Padres out of Princeton, where he also played basketball. . . . It is unlikely if infielders, other than first baseman Joe Koshansky, are called up when rosters expand on Monday. Jeff Baker and Omar Quintanilla have received limited playing time without having additional bodies trying to get at-bats. Outfielder Seth Smith, meanwhile, has made only three starts in 49 games since he was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on July 5.

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