Dexter Fowler has nine hits in 16 at-bats -- including two doubles and three triples -- since adding a leg kick to his swing. "I was in the second group of early BP and (hitting coach Carney Lansford) said, 'Hey, try this,' so I tried it," Fowler said. "It's kind of gone on from there. Spilly (Ryan Spilborghs ) was joking with me. He said, 'I've been doing a leg kick for four years and you just pick it up and start raking?'" We're in favor of whatever works for Fowler, as he had been underperforming and even spent time in the minors before this hot streak. He'll continue to hit leadoff and play center field while Carlos Gonzalez is out.

Dexter Fowler went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double and two runs scored as the Rockies' leadoff man Friday. Fowler will definitely have extra value while Carlos Gonzalez is on the shelf for the next couple of weeks. Not only will he play regularly, but he should bat first instead of eighth.

Dexter Fowler hit a two-run homer -- his first dinger of the year -- and struck out in his other three at-bats Thursday against the Braves. That's not what Jim Tracy wants from Fowler (more singles, fewer strikeouts), but then it's not really going to matter if Carlos Gonzalez lands on the DL. Fowler is hitting .304 with four extra-base hits in 23 at-bats since returning from the minors, and while he batted eighth today, he'll probably be back at the top of the lineup tomorrow with Gonzalez expected to miss some time.

Making his first start since being called back up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, Dexter Fowler doubled, stole a base and scored twice in Colorado's 4-0 win over the Brewers on Friday. He had last appeared in the bigs on June 4. Fowler is capable of being one of the most exciting players in baseball when on his game, but has been maddeningly inconsistent since breaking in three years ago, and sports an egregious career home/road split. In other words, lay off of him in mixed leagues for the time being.

Rockies recalled OF Dexter Fowler from Triple-A Colorado Springs. As expected, he'll make the start in center field Friday night against the Brewers. Fowler batted just .237 in 97 at-bats with the Sky Sox, but was 15-for-39 (.385) with two homers and six RBI over his final 10 games. He should get a pretty long leash in center field since the Rockies would prefer Carlos Gonzalez to stay in left field following his recent wrist injury.

Dexter Fowler is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Colorado Springs Friday. The Rockies want Fowler to handle center field while Carlos Gonzalez is banged up. He's batted .385 over the last 10 games at Triple-A. "We have seen his body of work over the last couple of weeks," manager Jim Tracy said. "We are very well aware of what Dexter is up to. He's going to be a guy that comes back to us and makes the type of contribution that we know he's capable of." We wouldn't use him in mixed leagues, but Fowler is worth a shot in NL-only formats again while he's getting playing time.

The Rockies have approached outfielder Dexter Fowler in the past about abandoning switch-hitting. Fowler has hit just .243/.338/.380 in 879 career plate appearances from the left side of the plate. He's significantly more productive as a right-handed batter, but all indications point to him sticking with the switch-hitting approach. "Did we discuss it? Yes, we did talk to him about that, and he feels very strongly that staying as a switch hitter is something he wants to do," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "I understand his reasoning wholeheartedly because of all the time he's put into it."

Rockies activated OF Dexter Fowler from the 15-day disabled list; optioned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs. As expected. Fowler hit just .238 with a .688 OPS in an extended opportunity with the big league club this season. He'll work on swinging from the left side of the plate at Triple-A while the Rockies commit to Carlos Gonzalez in center field and the emerging Charlie Blackmon in left.