Kris Bryant returns to Rockies’ lineup with a lot to prove

Kris Bryant gets another chance to prove himself.

The Rockies right fielder/first baseman, the team’s highest-paid player, returned to the lineup Tuesday night to face the Red Sox at Coors Field. He played in just 24 of the Rockies’ first 101 games, continuing a trend that has plagued him throughout his first three seasons in LoDo.

Bryant, 32, was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list, where he’d been since June 6. He battled a left rib contusion and left oblique strain and missed  43 games.

He started in right field and hit fifth. In the first inning, Bryant made an excellent catch, running down Rob Refsnyder’s drive into the corner, robbing him of extra bases and saving a run.

After the Rockies’ 6-0 loss to the Red Sox, Bryant acknowledged that the play was a test for him.

“I hate that I have put myself in a position to where you kind of have to hold your breath when I make a dive, or whatever, or run into a fence,” Bryant said. “That’s all on me.

“Obviously, that’s very frustrating. But like I said, I kind of surprised myself, and I was moving pretty good. Overall, I felt good.”

Bryant went 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts and is now hitting .180.

Manager Bud Black said he wouldn’t hesitate to play Bryant in right field on back-to-back nights, despite Bryant’s history of low-back problems.

“Physically, KB feels good,” Black said. “He’s a veteran player whom you trust to let you know how he feels.”

Black plans to use Bryant in right field, at first base and as a DH. The manager will have to find creative ways to give Michael Toglia and veteran right fielder/DH Charlie Blackmon playing time. Toglia’s shined defensively at first base and has been on a recent home run tear, while Blackmon continues to deliver key hits and quality at-bats.

To make room on the big-league roster, Colorado optioned outfielder Sean Bouchard to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Bryant played well in his Triple-A rehab assignment during which he played right field, designated hitter and first base in successive games, hitting 6 for 11 with two home runs and four singles.

Early in the season, Bryant missed 31 games because of his chronic back woes. He’s been limited to 25 games and has hit just two homers.

Since signing a seven-year, $182 million contract during spring training in 2022, Bryant has slashed .247/.378/.508 with 17 home runs. He’s played in just 146 of Colorado’s 425 games (34.4%).

Marquez update. Black said the Rockies received some encouraging news about right-hander German Marquez, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday when he experienced soreness and tightness related to his surgically repaired elbow.

“He’s feeling better today,” Black said. “We were cautious and German was tentative, so we took the (decision) out of his hands. German agreed. Tonight was his night to pitch, and he’s feeling pretty good, but we just didn’t want to take that chance. He’ll take a couple of days off from throwing and then we will see where we are.”