NewsTorrealba allowed to work out at Coors
Rox catcher is on MLB restricted list after son's kidnapping
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
06/17/09 8:55 PM ET
DENVER -- The Rockies have received permission from Major League Baseball to allow catcher Yorvit Torrealba to work out at Coors Field with the club at least through Sunday -- the end of the current homestand -- before beginning a five-day rehab period in the Minors.
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Torrealba last played June 1. The next day, he received word his 11-year-old son, and two of the boy's uncles, were kidnapped in his native Venezuela, and he left the club. All were released the following day. But with going to and from his home country, moving his family to the U.S., and helping his son adjust after the ordeal, Torrealba didn't return to the club until Sunday.
Manager Jim Tracy said Torrealba worked out with the team before Tuesday's game, and realized how much of his baseball conditioning he had lost.
"Our point to the [MLB] people in New York was with the difficult situation he was dealing with, he was completely dormant for almost two weeks," Tracy said Wednesday. "As he and I talked earlier this afternoon, yesterday, running around out here, he felt like it was almost like the first day of Spring Training."
Torrealba is on MLB's restricted list, which allows some flexibility in his rehab and return to the team and allowed the Rockies to replace him on the 40- and 25-man rosters. Tracy said MLB officials have been "mindful" of Torrealba's difficulties and are working with the club.
Tracy said the Rockies are looking at having Torrealba play one game, have a day off, play two in a row, then play the final day by ear.
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
