Dahl building stamina for Major League grind

PHOENIX — Slight left elbow soreness limited Rockies rookie David Dahl to one at-bat in three games going into Wednesday, another game he didn’t start. But Dahl is generally proud of how he has held up through the most playing time of his career.

Dahl, 22, has hit .310 with six home runs, 17 extra-base hits and an .856 OPS in 46 games covering 171 at-bats since being promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque on June 25. Add his Major League time to that at Double-A Hartford and Albuquerque, and Dahl has appeared in 138 games. Because of injuries — a hamstring issue in 2013, and a lacerated spleen sustained in an on-field collision and deep right knee contusion last season — Dahl had never played in more than 119 games in a pro season.

“His professional career has been a little uneven because he’s missed chunks of time here and there, so we’re certainly paying attention to that,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

Dahl said maintaining weight and stamina has always been a challenge. It was even tougher at Hartford. Because the team’s stadium could not be completed, it played every …

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