Los Angeles, CA – Just over a week after his return from the disabled list, Colorado Rockies veteran first baseman Todd Helton's season will be over once he undergoes surgery on lingering hip damage.
The first baseman confirmed on Monday that he will have a season-ending procedure to repair a torn labrum and other damage on Friday.
Helton had been sidelined since July 9 with inflammation in his right hip, and he was activated from the 15-day DL on July 27. He played in six games since then, going 5-for-19 with three runs batted in.
The 38-year-old will end up with a career-worst .238 average, seven home runs, 16 doubles, 37 RBI and 31 runs scored in just 69 games -- his lowest number since a 35-game stint in his rookie campaign of 1997.
He will head into a 2013 season which will be the final year in his current contract, set to pay him $5 million.
The team placed Helton on the 15-day disabled list to clear room on the roster for infielder Chris Nelson, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list.
Nelson, a three-year veteran, had been on the DL since July 17 with an irregular heartbeat. He was batting .256 with five homers and 23 RBI in 58 games with Colorado prior to the setback.
