Rockies recall Ryan Ritter from Triple-A on Sunday

It’s a bit surprising that Tovar hasn’t hit the injured list after exiting Monday’s series opener against the Nationals with a left wrist strain. It’ll be Ryan Ritter taking over at shortstop in his absence.

No word yet on a corresponding move from the Rockies, though Mickey Moniak (finger) is eligible to come off of the injured list on Friday and could be activated for the team’s home opener. Ritter went 1-for-7 (.143) with a run scored during his limited action with the Rockies.

Ritter homered to center in the fifth, with the roundtripper travelling an estimated 427 feet. The 25-year-old has performed exceptionally this spring, and it’s hard to imagine he hasn’t hit enough to earn a roster spot with Colorado to open the 2026 campaign. He’s someone worth keeping an eye on in NL-only formats.

The Rockies scored seven runs between the eighth and ninth innings today. Prior to that, Ritter’s homer in the fifth was their lone run of the game. Even though he’s struck out in 16 of his 51 plate appearances, Ritter is batting .340/.392/.553 this spring. He’s also 3-for-4 stealing bases. With Kyle Karros seemingly favored to start at third and Willi Castro in line to play a lot of second base, the Rockies might want Ritter opening up in Triple-A instead of sticking around as a utilityman, but we’ll see. There’d be more room for him as a part-time option at second, third and in the outfield if Karros is sent down.

The 25-year-old infielder smacked a one-out double in the second inning but the Rockies were unable to cash him in. He then led off the fourth inning with a single, swiped second base and scored on a ground ball single by Nicky Lopez. Ritter also doubled in the fifth inning. With his three-hit attack, he’s now hitting .478 (11-for-23) with a homer, six RBI and three stolen bases to start the spring. He has seemingly locked up a bench spot on the Rockies’ Opening Day roster.

Ritter stumbled in his first opportunity with the Rockies after posting stellar numbers at extremely hitter-friendly Triple-A Albuquerque last year. The 25-year-old’s defensive versatility opens a relatively unobstructed back for him to make Colorado’s season-opening roster, but it would take something unexpected for him to have sustained fantasy relevance this season.

Ritter’s two-run single was part of a four-run seventh inning that gave the Rockies a 5-4 lead. He’s gone 4-for-11 with two extra-base hits in three games since coming off the injured list on Friday. Although his exit velocity numbers aren’t impressive at all, the Rockies might as well play him regularly the rest of the way to figure out if he belongs in their plans for 2026. He’s hit .250/.298/.373 in 124 plate appearances to date.

It appears to be just a routine day of rest for the 24-year-old shortstop. Ryan Ritter was activated from the injured list prior to the game and he’ll start at shortstop and bat ninth against Brandon Pfaadt and the Diamondbacks on Friday evening at Coors Field.

Ritter returns after missing just under a month with a laceration on his right middle finger. The 24-year-old will get a chance to play up the middle for Colorado, but the fantasy upside is limited — at least for 2025, anyway.

Ritter heads to the injured list after hitting .238/.291/.347 with one homer, 12 RBI and one steal in 31 games for Colorado since being called up back on June 7. It’ll be Adael Amador coming up from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill his roster spot.