After more than a week of strengthening his core and running on a treadmill, Todd Helton is on the road back to the active roster.
The 36-year-old first baseman will begin a rehab assignment Friday with the short-season Casper Ghosts. The tentative plan calls for Helton to be a designated hitter Friday, play first base Saturday and DH again Sunday. Based on how he feels, Helton will either play Monday for the Ghosts or return to Denver to be re-evaluated. The Rockies begin a two-game series Tuesday with the wild-card leading Giants.
“I will go out and get some at-bats and see how I feel,” said Helton, who has started just four times since June 28 when his back and hamstring felt weak during batting practice at Petco Park in San Diego.
Helton is hitting .246 with two home runs and 16 RBIs. This has easily been his most frustrating season. Teammates admit that his presence has been missed in the clubhouse, and the lineup is different without him grinding out at-bats.
“Nobody does that like him,” infielder Clint Barmes said.
Full strength is a relative term at this point for Helton, but he acknowledged that it doesn’t make sense to come back until he can help. He was originally scheduled to begin a rehab assignment a week ago in Single-A Asheville, but decided against it.
While there are questions about Helton’s future — will this be his last year? — he is focused on returning this season. Helton’s role when he returns is unclear since it depends entirely on his health.
“It’s a wait-and-see proposition. That’s all you can do,” manager Jim Tracy said. “Nobody can sit here and tell you what’s going to happen.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
