Rockies shortstop Tulowitzki nears return

When Troy Tulowitzki’s left wrist took a hit on June 18, it was thought the Colorado Rockies would be down for the count.

But the team more than stayed afloat until the All-Star break without their shortstop, going 15-7 since a pitch from Twins reliever Alex Burnett caused the fracture. That pace has slowed to 2-6 on their current road trip to open the second half of the season, but the Rockies remain just 5½ games back in the NL West going into Saturday’s game in Philadelphia.

“I think if you look at the guys who have stepped up, (Jonathan) Herrera and (Clint) Barmes have done a great job since I’ve been gone and I don’t think they’ve missed me that much at all,” he said.

Not that Tulowitzki isn’t eager to return. If everything goes according to plan, Tulowitzki will be back in the lineup Tuesday, when the Rockies open a home series against the Pirates.

“Hopefully when I come back, it’ll be a little boost for our team,” Tulowitzki said.

It’s been a special year for Tulowitzki despite the injury. He was batting .306 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs when he went down, numbers good enough to earn him his first trip to the All-Star Game. Though he wasn’t able to play, the nomination meant a lot to him.

“It was an honor,” he said. “To get voted in by the players shows that the players realize what I do out there on the field.”

In two games with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox this week, Tulowitzki played 11 innings and went 1-for-4 with a walk and run. He will wrap up his rehab with Double-A Tulsa this weekend before being re-evaluated by the Rockies.  

As for the rest of the season, Tulowitzki has only one thing in mind.

“Winning,” he said. “It comes down to winning and helping the Rockies reach another playoff, and you never know once you get there what can happen.”