HOUSTON -- Taylor Motter has spent the better part of a year working to shed the ¡°utility player¡± label. On Tuesday in Houston, he had his first opportunity to put those efforts to the test, slotted into the Rockies¡¯ lineup as the designated hitter in the series opener with the Astros.

Motter was called up hours earlier from Triple-A Albuquerque as a roster replacement for outfielder Raimel Tapia, who was placed on the 10-day IL with a right big toe strain. Manager Bud Black expects Tapia to be back after the 10 days. That gives Motter a moderate amount of time to show what he can do, after a three-year absence from the big leagues.

Having spent most of his career as a utility type who relied on speed and stealing bases to earn playing time, Motter worked last offseason to add power to his game. He also added 35-40 pounds to his frame and changed his approach at the plate -- ¡°try to be a guy that can bang a little bit,¡± Motter said.

That¡¯s precisely what he was doing in Albuquerque before he was called up. Motter slashed .335/.460/.759 with 24 homers for the Isotopes. If those numbers translate, he¡¯ll add power to a Rockies lineup that has been in a groove for a few weeks. Since July 11, Colorado has averaged a league-leading 5.77 runs per game, with a league-leading 1.86 homers per game -- 41 homers over 22 games.

Those numbers could improve even more with Motter, who posted a 1.220 OPS for the Isotopes before his callup.

¡°He¡¯s hit, and he¡¯s hit all year,¡± Black said. ¡°He¡¯s been really good the last month. He¡¯s a guy that has played himself back to the big leagues based on performance. It¡¯s been a good story, to watch him and the season unfold, what he¡¯s done offensively with the bat.¡±

Motter last played in the Majors in 2018, splitting time between the Mariners and Twins. Overall, he has a .191 average over 372 Major League at-bats. Now 31 (he turns 32 next month), he¡¯s looking to reestablish himself as a power hitter in an organization that is looking for fresh talent to add to the organization moving forward.

¡°Being that utility guy who you¡¯re not afraid to put in to hit at any time, it¡¯s huge,¡± Motter said. ¡°That¡¯s one thing that I prided myself this offseason was to be that hitter, [and a guy] that you can use at any position.¡±

After receiving glowing reports from Albuquerque, Black is ready to take a long look at Motter, who was also expected to be in the lineup Wednesday, when the Rockies face lefty Framber Valdez.

¡°He¡¯s found something that has clicked for him,¡± Black said. ¡°He¡¯s going to get an opportunity here. We¡¯ll see how long this goes and the at-bats he puts up. We¡¯ll play him in the field and see whether this is a guy we need to consider over the wintertime as part of our organization. We¡¯re looking for performers, we¡¯re looking for guys to help us win. He¡¯s going to get his opportunity. ¡°