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Rockies' Kris Bryant hitless in return from month stint on IL

DENVER -- Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant returned to the starting lineup Friday against the Detroit Tigers after a one-month stint on the injured list with a left heel bruise.

Bryant, who started in right field and hit second, went hitless in four at-bats in the Rockies' 8-5 win.

Bryant, 32, is hitting .258 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 51 games this season. He was 1-for-4 with a walk in his one rehab game at Albuquerque on Wednesday.

"It's good to have KB back in there," Colorado manager Bud Black said before Friday's game. "He's a presence. He gives you a really good at-bat. He takes a lot of pressure off the guys. Hopefully he can jump right in and contribute."

Bryant will have no initial restrictions, Black said.

"We'll see how he's going, but as long as he feels good and it makes sense to keep him going, we're going to keep him going," Black said.

Bryant played only 42 games in his first season with Colorado in 2022, after signing a seven-year, $182 million free agent contract. He missed most of last season with plantar fasciitis.

The Rockies designated catcher Jorge Alfaro for assignment Friday and also promoted Ty Blach from Albuquerque to replace Matt Carasiti, who was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.