Hernan Iribarren had a blown-out knee. His season had ended before he had a chance to crack the Rockies. And he was overcome by a lot of uncertainty about his baseball future.

“All the thoughts came to my mind,” he said, “thinking I was going to lose my career.”

The opposite has transpired, with Iribarren plenty rejuvenated now that he’s healthy and making contributions with his hot bat and speed on the bases for the Sky Sox, who split a doubleheader Thursday against the Oklahoma City RedHawks at Security Service Field.

MAY 24 SKY SOX REPORT: A LOSS, THEN A WIN IN TWINBILL

In the first game, Iribarren went 1-for-3, and the Sky Sox (24-23) suffered a 7-4 loss after Oklahoma City (27-20) blasted Drew Pomeranz (2-1) for six runs in three innings – only two runs were earned due to errors by Brendan Harris. Iribarren was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the second game, as the Sky Sox recorded a 9-2 victory, with Guillermo Moscoso (3-3) tallying the win and two doubles by Andrew Brown, who had five RBIs in the twinbill.

A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last year in spring training was the most serious injury that Iribarren, 27, had suffered in a professional career that began in 2002. Surgery over the summer was successful, however, Iribarren wondered whether he would be the same player again, so he sought guidance from his wife, who is a psychologist.

“She helped me a lot,” Iribarren said, adding that “while the days were passing, my mind was settled. People told me that a lot of people get hurt and come back. I just needed to work hard, and I did, and I’m back. … I’m really happy. I’m glad that I’m healthy.”

Iribarren started feeling comfortable with his knee in August, as he ran for the first time. “It was like light jogging,” Iribarren said. “But it was a big thing for me, and I felt like I was getting stronger.” Still, as Iribarren played in his native Venezuela, his knee required a brace, and Iribarren admitted he “had doubts. Running to first, I was a little nervous.”

While transitioning from the infield to the outfield, Iribarren, a left-handed batter, has hit .324 with 11 RBIs and six doubles, he leads the Sky Sox with 19 walks and 10 steals and he has a .404 on-base percentage. He has reached base in 16 of his past 17 starts, and on an eight-game homestand that concluded Thursday, he went 11-for-30 with five RBIs.

Simply put, Iribarren seems to have an impact most days he steps onto the field. “That’s the way I play,” Iribarren said. “That’s a big part of my game – bunting, running, stealing bases. I’m trying to do everything right. Sometimes, it doesn’t go well. But it’s part of my game, and I just try to get the team a win every time I get to the plate or if I’m running.”

Signed by the Rockies in January after he became a free agent in November, Iribarren last played in the majors with the Brewers in 2009, a year after he made his big-league debut. Before his injury, he spent three seasons in Triple-A with Rangers and Brewers affiliates, and he tallied career highs with 70 RBIs and 179 total bases with Oklahoma City in 2010.

Staying patient for a nod from the Rockies isn’t a problem for Iribarren. “Right now, I’m not thinking about it,” he said. “If I get the call-up, that’s awesome. That’s my goal. I’m going to get the call-up just doing what I’m doing – playing well and helping the team.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazettedev.gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazetteskysox. Google+: Brian Gomez. For the Sky Sox homepage, visit http://www.gazettedev.gazette.com/sections/roxsox. For the Sky Sox blog, visit http://skysox.freedomblogging.com.