The Colorado Rockies placed rookie right-hander Victor Vodnik on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday due to right bicep inflammation.
The move is retroactive to Monday. In a corresponding move, the Rockies have taken over the contract of right-hander Jeff Criswell from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Vodnik was preparing to pitch in the ninth inning of Colorado’s 3-1 win over the Washington Nationals when he reported right shoulder discomfort and did not participate in the game.
“Victor has worked hard,” Rockies manager Bud Black said Tuesday. “He’s a rookie and we’ve talked about the dog days of August. It’s Victor’s first full season. It’s not totally unexpected that he might have a little arm issue, so we’ll be a little cautious.”
“To his credit, he said something instead of just moving on.”
The 24-year-old Vodnik last pitched on Sunday, earning his ninth save in a 3-2 home win over the San Diego Padres. He has a 3-3 record, a 4.04 ERA, 31 walks and 57 strikeouts in 64⅔ innings in 55 relief appearances.
Until Tuesday, he led the major leagues among rookie relief pitchers in total innings pitched.
Vodnik, who made his major league debut on September 9, 2023, has a 4-3 record and a 4.54 ERA in 61 career relief appearances.
Criswell, 25, was 1-1 with a 6.24 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 57⅔ innings in 35 relief appearances for Albuquerque this season. He pitched one scoreless inning and allowed one hit in his major league debut as the Rockies lost 6-1 to the Nationals on Wednesday night.
Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.