Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela to return from Tommy John surgery Monday

For the first time in 495 days, Antonio Senzatela will find his way to the mound for a major league game.

Senzatela, returning from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, will start Monday for the Rockies, manager Bud Black confirmed Friday afternoon at Coors Field. It will be the first game for Senzatela with the big club since May 10, 2023, when he left his second start of last season after facing just 12 batters.

Senzatela and the Rockies opted against surgery for the ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his elbow at first, but he eventually had the procedure in mid-July 2023 after a platelet-rich plasma injection did not have the desired effect.

The 29-year-old righty had been an on-again, off-again member of Colorado’s rotation for the previous six seasons before the injury. He set career bests in innings pitched (156 2/3) and strikeouts (105) in 2021.

Senzatela made five starts for Double-A Hartford as the final part of his rehab process and posted a 5.29 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 17 innings.

Black also said that Cal Quantrill will take the ball Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs ahead of Senzatela’s start Monday night against the Diamondbacks.

In other injury news, the Rockies manager reiterated that Kris Bryant isn’t close to a return from his back injury.

“Honestly, he’s not real close,” Black said. “As each day goes on, it’s becoming increasingly possible that his season is over.”