Corey Dickerson was in limbo with the Rockies. Now he’s on the 15-day disabled list.
The nature of a plantar fasciitis injury in his left foot left him not quite well enough to play full time. But it wasn’t bad enough for a full move to the disabled list. That changed Tuesday when the Rockies decided to put their left-fielder on the DL and call up minor-league utility player Ben Paulsen.
“It’s time to let it rest,” Dickerson said. “I was spending five hours in the training room — I just don’t have the recovery that I should. I need to give it a break and let it heal to make it manageable again.”
Dickerson has played through inflammation in his left heel since spring training. On Saturday, he started against the Dodgers but when he chased a fly ball to the warning track, the injury worsened.
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“When I stopped on my toes, it felt like a tearing sensation, a burning, like somebody lit your heel on fire,” Dickerson said.
On Monday night, he struck out in a pinch-hit appearance against Philadelphia.
Dickerson will not undergo surgery, he said. Instead, he’ll wear a walking boot for 2 to 3 days, then continue with treatments before restarting baseball activity.
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“It’s gonna kill me to not be playing,” Dickerson said. “But I can bring more to the team when it does heal. It’s so short — in a month, we won’t remember it.”
Dickerson was hitting .306 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 33 games.
“It’s tough to play short-handed,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s pinch-hit, but that’s the extent of it. It just had gotten worse.”
Weiss added: “It’s reasonable to think he’ll be ready by the end of the DL stint.”
Paulsen was hitting .256 with 34 strikeouts and 15 walks in 36 games at Triple-A Albuquerque this season. He can play left and right field and first base.
“Versatility and thump from the left side,” Weiss said of what Paulsen brings to the team.
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
