SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ian Desmond’s big-deal opportunity to play with the Rockies will have to wait. The first-time first baseman, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract in the offseason, will undergo surgery to repair a broken left hand.

Desmond will have surgery Wednesday to repair the second metacarpal in his left hand, below the index finger. Dr. Donald Sheridan will perform the surgery in Scottsdale, the Rockies said.

Desmond was hit by a pitch in a Cactus League game Sunday against Cincinnati. His hand is now in a splint.

Surgery likely prolongs his comeback to several weeks, perhaps multiple months, based on a timeline of similar injuries. Tampa Bay outfielder Kevin Kiermaier had surgery last season to repair a broken metacarpal and he missed seven weeks in the middle of the season. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook had a slight fracture of the bone in 2014 and surgery kept him out about a month.

Desmond did not want to answer questions Monday.

“It’s a little bit better than I was expecting,” Colorado manager Bud Black said.

Veteran Mark Reynolds, the Rockies’ starting first baseman last season, started Monday’s game at first base against Kansas City. He is now the presumptive replacement for Desmond to begin the season.

“That’s where I’m most comfortable,” said Reynolds, who was rated as an above-average defensive first baseman last season, ranking eighth in defensive runs saved. “If I’m having a bad day offensively, I know I can contribute on the glove side, picking up throws, little things to help the team get extra outs.”

Reynolds sustained a broken hand last season when he was hit by a pitch on Sept. 18. The injury kept him from swinging a bat for nearly three months. He was in a cast for six weeks.

“Once I got it off, I still had to gain mobility and strength,” Reynolds said. “I was very tentative with it. I was scared. I know it’s only flips or hitting off a tee, but if I hit it wrong, it’ll vibrate and hurt me some more. As more time goes by, the more comfortable I get. But I still flash back sometimes when I’m in the box to that pitch coming up and in and crushing me right in the hand.”

The Rockies quickly moved to find replacement options at first base, working out Jordan Patterson, Stephen Cardullo and Cristhian Adames at first base during practice Monday morning.

“In his absence, we will insert a player on a given day we think gives us the best chance to win,” Black said. “We will explore some options with players. We have some players who are versatile. And we’ll take advantage of that.”

Justin Morneau, the veteran free-agent first baseman who played with the Rockies two seasons ago, is probably not an option.

“To be honest, I have not heard his name in the last 24 hours,” Black said. Morneau is playing for Canada in the WBC.

Desmond was set to play first base for the first time in his career after playing shortstop in his career with Washington and Texas. It was a curious free-agent move for the Rockies. But they prized Desmond’s versatility on offense.

“He was probably a guy we could be more creative with,” Black said. “He can steal, he can hit-and-run. You can do some things with him. If another player gets in, let’s say Reynolds, he’s not really a base runner or a base-stealer. With Ian, you might be able to bring an element to the offense that we were looking for, the completeness of a player. Runs the bases well, hits to all fields, has power, hits for average. He can do a lot of things with the bat.”