PHOENIX — David Dahl’s season began with a Double-A team that didn’t play home games, peaked with a sizzling start to his major-league career and has leveled into a productive rookie year with the Rockies.

Through it all, Dahl has played in 138 games, 19 more than he has during any other season in his professional season. And the 22-year-old outfielder is discovering the physical toll a full season can take.

“The last couple weeks, I’ve lost some weight, bat feels a little heavier, stuff like that,” Dahl said. “It’s just something that I’ve got to get used to, especially if I want to play here in the big leagues and play that long of a season.”

Dahl was out of the lineup for the third consecutive game Wednesday during the Rockies’ series final against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rockies manager Walt Weiss said the rookie has been dealing with a slight left elbow issue, but he also acknowledged that he has been monitoring the fatigue factor as it relates to Dahl.

“I had that conversation with him,” Weiss said. “His professional career has been a little uneven because of the injuries and he’s missed chunks of time here and there. So we’re paying attention to all that.”

Dahl was limited to 79 games in 2015 after suffering a lacerated spleen at the end of May and then sustaining a knee injury in August. He began this season at Double-A Hartford, a club that had to play all its games on the road after construction delays pushed the opening of the city’s new stadium.

Given all that, Weiss said he’s been impressed with how Dahl has handled his long season with aplomb.

“He’s obviously shown up very well at the major-league level,” Weiss said. “I’m really excited about him as a player, and I’ll be running him back out there again. I just wanted to, for a few different reasons, give him a few days here.”

Motte feels good in return. After Jason Motte spent the past seven weeks rehabbing his arm after suffering a right rotator cuff strain, the veteran Rockies reliever didn’t count on his footwork being the thing to save him.

Motte made his first relief appearance since July 25 during the eighth inning of the Rockies’ 11-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. The right-hander faced one batter, Mitch Haniger, who drilled a hot shot up the middle that Motte had to duck to prevent being drilled. Tony Wolters made the play at second base to give Motte a spotless appearance.

“It was real exciting having a line drive back at me,” Motte mused when asked about his return.

The hard-hit ball aside, Motte said he felt good during his appearance after a lengthy layoff.

“I felt good during bullpens, felt good during my live BPs, so it felt good to get back out there, regardless of what the score was,” Motte said. “It’s a step forward.”