Rockies player Brenton Doyle injures index finger in “freak accident”

Brenton Doyle had an unforgettable July, but Sunday was a day to forget.

The Rockies’ Gold Glove center fielder injured the index finger of his right (throwing hand) early in Colorado’s 5-4 loss to the Giants at Oracle Park.

When Doyle threw a strikeout against Erik Miller in the bottom of the first inning in Sunday’s loss to the Giants, he angrily threw a towel at the training equipment in the dugout, according to MLB.com. However, Doyle hit his finger on the equipment and suffered a bruise.

Manager Bud Black spoke with Doyle and found that he could not properly grip a baseball or bat. As a precautionary measure, Doyle was removed from the game in the third inning – a move that sparked bizarre speculation online that he could be part of a deal before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. An X-ray showed no major damage.

“It was a serious accident, kind of a freak accident,” Black told reporters in San Francisco. “He has a bruise on the tip of his finger. … He accidentally injured his finger.”

Doyle told MLB.com he hopes the finger heals quickly so he can play in Colorado’s three-game series against the Angels, which begins Tuesday night in Anaheim, California.

Doyle, who is in his second season in the major leagues, is having a remarkable month and has a good chance of being named National League Player of the Month.