Rockies place Bryant on IL with lumbar degenerative disc disease

The Colorado Rockies placed designated hitter Kris Bryant on the 10-day injured list due to lumbar degenerative disc disease, they announced Monday.

It's unclear what type of treatment Bryant will receive for the issue. Manager Bud Black said that while the former NL MVP is likely to return after the minimum 10 days are up, the condition will force the team to manage his playing time.

"A lot of players - especially at this point in their career - have to manage certain things in their body," Black said, per Andrés Soto of MLB.com.

This is the latest setback for Bryant during an immensely disappointing Rockies tenure. Since joining the Rockies on a seven-year, $182-million contract in 2022, the four-time All-Star has played in just 170 games due to being sidelined by injuries. He's accrued minus-1.8 fWAR as a Rockie, tied for the fourth-worst among hitters with at least 700 plate appearances since 2022.

Back issues have been Bryant's most frequent problem. Last year, his recurring back problems forced him to the IL twice; he also missed over a month due to a low back strain in 2022.

As a result, the Rockies have deployed Bryant, who was once one of baseball's most versatile defensive players, exclusively as a DH or pinch-hitter this season. He's hitting .154/.195/.205 with one RBI, two walks, and 13 strikeouts over 41 plate appearances in 2025.

The 33-year-old is earning $25 million annually through 2028.

The Rockies selected catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding roster move. To open a 40-man roster spot for Fulford, pitcher Jeff Criswell was transferred to the 60-day IL.