The Colorado Rockies placed closer Victor Vodnik on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday because of inflammation of the right ulnar nerve, also known as the funny bone.
In a corresponding move, the Rockies selected the contract of right-hander Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Albuquerque. They also designated first baseman Blaine Crim for assignment to clear a spot for Thompson on the 40-man roster.
Vodnik, 26, last pitched on Monday, when he allowed three runs, one hit and two walks on 14 pitches while facing three batters in Colorado’s 7-6 home win over the Texas Rangers.
The right-hander is 1-2 with four saves, an 8.00 ERA, 13 walks and 16 strikeouts in 18 innings over 18 relief appearances (10 games finished).
For his major league career in parts of four seasons with Colorado, Vodnik is 11-9 with 23 saves, a 4.53 ERA, 79 walks and 142 strikeouts in 151 innings over 140 relief appearances. He had career bests of 10 saves and a 3.02 ERA last season.
The Rockies already had starting pitcher Chase Dollander and Ryan Feltner and reliever Jimmy Herget on the IL.
Thompson, 31, pitched in the majors for the Chicago Cubs from 2021-24 and compiled a 17-11 record with five saves, a 3.64 ERA, 111 walks and 225 strikeouts in 227 1/3 innings over 104 games (23 starts).
This season at Albuquerque, Thompson was 1-3 with a 3.34 ERA, 10 walks and 19 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings over 11 games (five starts).
Crim, 28, who had not played in the majors this season, batted .200 with five home runs with 12 RBIs in a combined 20 games with the Texas Rangers and Colorado last season. He batted .265 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 36 games this year for Albuquerque.
