Juan Nicasio (neck) will throw throw 80 pitches off a mound in the Dominican Republic soon. He's also expected to face live hitters sometime in January. Nicasio reportedly was "electric" in a recent bullpen session, as his recovery from a fractured C-1 vertebrae has gone as well as could be hoped to this point. "Unless there's a setback, he will compete for a rotation spot in spring training," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said.

Rockies' director of Latin American operations Rolando Fernandez said that Juan Nicasio (neck) has been "electric" during his bullpen sessions in the Dominican Republic. Great news for Nicasio, who suffered a fractured C-1 vertebrae when he took a line drive off the head in early August. His future in baseball was a minor concern at the time, but the Rockies are increasingly optimistic that he'll be cleared to compete for a spot in the starting rotation during spring training. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 4.14 ERA and 58/18 K/BB ratio over 13 starts in his rookie season.

Rockies activated RHP Juan Nicasio from the 60-day disabled list. Nicasio has made a surprisingly quick recovery from a fractured vertebrae, and even began throwing off a mound last week. He might be ready by Opening Day 2012.

Juan Nicasio (neck) has begun throwing off a mound. A huge step for the 25-year-old Nicasio, who suffered a fractured C-1 vertebrae when he took an Ian Desmond line drive to the head in early August. "It's a miracle. It really is," Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd told The Denver Post on Wednesday. "I saw him in Arizona (at the Rockies' spring training facility) working out in the weight room, running and pitching. He looked just like any other player getting ready for the season."

Juan Nicasio had his neck brace removed Tuesday. Nicasio has worn the brace for the last six week after he underwent surgery to repair a fracture of his C-1 vertebrae. "It was beginning to look like, the last few days, that thing was getting very, very uncomfortable, as you can well imagine," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. Nicasio is expected to be 100 percent by spring training.

Juan Nicasio will have his neck brace removed Tuesday. Good news. Nicasio, who fractured his C-1 vertebrae when he was hit by a comebacker on August 5, will play catch in the instructional league and pitch in the Dominican winter league. As of now, his status for the 2012 season looks promising.

Juan Nicasio will have his neck brace removed on September 20 or 23. "I have been moving my neck from side to side. I am getting stronger," Nicasio said. The right-hander will play catch in the Arizona instructional league before pitching in the Dominican winter league. All signs point to him being ready for spring training.

Rockies transferred RHP Juan Nicasio from the 15-day day to the 60-day disabled list. He was transferred in order to make room for Alex White on the active roster. Nicasio has made major strides since suffering a fractured C-1 vertebrae in his neck earlier this month and could do some throwing as soon as November in the Dominican instructional league.

Juan Nicasio spoke to the media Tuesday at Coors Field for the first time since suffering a fractured C-1 vertebrae in his neck on August 5. "I want to pitch again," Nicasio told reporters. While a fracture of the C-1 often leads to paralysis or death, Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post writes that "the only visible sign of his ordeal was the neck brace he wore to the press conference." If Nicasio continues to progress, the hope is that he will be able to do some throwing in the Dominican instructional league in November.

Juan Nicasio (neck) returned to the Rockies' clubhouse at Coors Field on Monday night. Nicasio fractured a vertebrae in his neck earlier this month and underwent season-ending surgery on Saturday morning. He appeared to be in good spirits while greeting his teammates. "I can't begin to tell you how warm it is in that clubhouse seeing Juan Nicasio walking around here," Rockies manager Jim Tracy told the media. "This guy is some kind of tough, I've got to tell you."