Colorado Rockies veteran RHP Aaron Cook continues to have an unlucky spring. Cook had been sidelined with shoulder soreness for the first two weeks of spring training, but began throwing again this week with the goal of returning to the Colorado rotation in mid April. That appears to be a pipe dream, as the Rockies are reporting that Cook has broken the ring finger on his right hand, and will likely be out until at least May.
With Cook sidelined for at least the first six weeks of the season, the pressure is now on RHP Esmil Rogers, the current frontrunner for that fifth and final rotation spot. Rogers had a solid performance in his last spring start, and will need to continue to excel. Veteran signee John Maine is also another option to fill that fifth slot, though he also had a slow start to spring training and is unlikely to be ready for big league action before mid-April.
This is a disastrous start for Aaron Cook, who is in the final year of his contract and came into training camp expecting to pitch for a future contract. These setbacks put a future career with the Colorado Rockies in doubt.