Troy Tulowitzki injury needs surgery; likely out 8 weeks, Rockies say

PHILADELPHIA — Troy Tulowitzki finally knows what's wrong with his leg, but that relief is muted by the potential eight-week absence he faces following arthroscopic surgery on his left groin. The two-time all-star shortstop will have scar tissue impacting a nerve removed Thursday, with the procedure performed by Philadelphia specialist Bill Meyers,whom Tulowitzki flew to visit Monday. He will be sidelined until August, if not longer. "That's a blessing knowing what it is but the downside of that is more than likely he's lost for eight weeks. We are planning on Cheap NHL Jerseys eight weeks and will adjust off that," general manager Dan O'Dowd told The Denver Post. "Like any club we are built around our best players. Even if we were having an average year rather than bad year losing him would be problematic." Tulowitzki, 27, underwent an MRI and battery of tests Wednesday, ruling out issues with his hip labrum. While similar, this injury is not classified as a sports hernia. Following the surgery, Tulo will have three weeks of rest before slowly resuming baseball activity. This is the third major injury he's suffered since 2008, having missed significant time with a torn left quadriceps, lacerated right hand, broken left wrist and this lingering groin injury that he first injured in the season's second game then aggravated on May 30 against the Dodgers. "The hardest thing for him was not knowing," said close friend and veteran Jason Giambi said. "That can be so frustrating as a player. This is not good news, but it's good mental news for him. The important thing is that we get Tulo right. We have just have to keep plugging along. The game doesn't give you any other choice." Marco Scutaro, 36, has been manning shortstop in Tulowitzki's absence. He will continue to start, though Jonathan Herrera (hamstring) is close to returning from his rehab assignment and could see time at the position along with Chris Nelson. "We believe when this is corrected we can get on the other side of this and move forward," manager Jim Tracy said. Tulowitzki, a two-time Glove Glove and Silver Slugger winner, was placed on the disabled list on May 31 after hurting Cheap Basketball Jerseys his left groin while breaking out of the batter's box against the Dodgers. He re-aggravated the injury on the first game of a Triple-A rehab assignment last week. After hitting a home run and lining a single up the middle, Tulo felt pain while running the bases. "My spirits aren't good. I don't know what's going on. We haven't figured it out yet," Tulowitzki said Tuesday. Tulo had begun to simmer offensively before his injury. He is hitting .287 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs and a .360 on-base percentage. "Hopefully he won't have to deal with this anymore and when he gets back he will will be fine," outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "We miss him and it's hard to believe he's going to be out of the lineup that long. But we need him healthy."