DENVER — Matt Holliday is back in purple and black.
Colorado Rockies Manager Bud Black reported to 850 KOA radio Thursday morning that Holliday will start in left field against the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon.
The Rockies signed the 38-year-old slugger to a minor league contract on July 29.
Holliday has hit three home runs with 14 RBIs in 15 games with the Albuquerque Isotopes, according to MLB.com.
Holliday played the first five seasons of his career with the Rockies and helped lead Colorado to its only World Series appearance in 2007.
The Rockies traded Holliday to Oakland after the 2008 season in a deal for Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith and Huston Street, and the A's dealt him to St. Louis during the 2009 season. The Cardinals won the World Series with Holliday in 2011.
Holliday hit 19 home runs with the New York Yankees last season.
"It's been surreal, back wearing Rockies gear and thinking back to some of these young guys in here," Holliday said upon signing with Colorado last month. "Twenty years ago I was kind of in their shoes. It's pretty neat to be back."
In the middle of a playoff push, the Rockies will rely on Holliday's hitting and leadership.
"That's one of the main things that got me going, how they're playing and potentially go into a postseason and make another run at a World Series," Holliday said last month.
