Major League Baseball

Rockies' Tulowitzki to begin rehab assignment

Published Jul. 19, 2010 11:31 p.m. ET

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Troy Tulowitzki will begin a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday, and the Colorado Rockies hope to activate the shortstop after he spends a week in the minor leagues.

Manager Jim Tracy outlined a timetable Monday for Tulowitzki and also said first baseman Todd Helton may be activated from the disabled list as early as Tuesday.

Helton has been out since July 5 with a stiff back. Tulowitzki broke his left wrist June 17.

Tulowitzki plans to play for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday and Thursday, then travel to Tulsa and start for the Double-A Drillers on Saturday and Sunday. He may be activated as early as July 28, Tracy said.

Tulowitzki made the All-Star team for first time this season. He's batting .306 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. At the time he was injured, he was leading all major league shortstops in assists, putouts and double plays.

Tulowitzki and Helton were with the Rockies on Monday and worked out before the team opened a four-game series at Florida. Helton is healthy, but the Rockies haven't decided whether to activate him without a rehabilitation assignment.

''There's a part of you that thinks you want to save as much ammunition as you possibly can rather than send this guy out and have him play rehab games,'' Tracy said.

Helton is struggling through the worst season of his career, hitting .250 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 69 games.