NEW YORK — The Colorado Rockies have two players vying for the National League batting title. Defending NL batting champion Michael Cuddyer wasted no time Monday proving he likely would have made it a three-way Rockies race if his body would have cooperated.
The Rockies activated Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list Monday, when the first baseman returned in impressive fashion by homering in his first at-bat of the Rockies’ 3-2 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field.
The homer was the only hit of the night for Cuddyer, who is hitting .328 with seven homers and 20 RBIs while being limited to 35 games due to three stints on the disabled list.
Cuddyer hit for the cycle on Aug. 17, one day after he returned from missing 59 games due to a left shoulder fracture. But he went back on the disabled list on Aug. 23 due to a left hamstring strain — the same ailment that cost him 25 games from April 21 through May 20.
“Elite player,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said Monday afternoon. “He’s shown that, when he’s been healthy this year when he’s been on the field.”
Cuddyer, who hit .331 last season to win his first batting title, will watch as Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau and left fielder Corey Dickerson vie to succeed him as NL batting champ.
Morneau, who had the night off Monday, leads the NL with a .316 average. Dickerson is hitting .313 after his 1-for-5 effort Monday but doesn’t have enough plate appearances to qualify for the title. He needs to collect 76 plate appearances over the final 18 games to qualify.