Rockies' Tulowitzki participates in on-field batting practice

He remained in the game since he was already filling in for Jeff Baker, who had burst a blood vessel in the middle finger of his right hand in batting practice. He doesn't think he did more damage by not coming out immediately.

Although Tulowitzki has taken a few cuts in the cage and some routine grounders, he hasn't tested his quad yet. Taking grounders in the hole is still a little ways off.

"Sometimes you try and bring a guy back too soon and they make the same type of move and it grabs on them and they re-injure it," trainer Keith Dugger said. "We've taken it fairly slow and it's doing fine."

Truth be known, Tulowitzki is a little apprehensive right now about planting and throwing.

"That's how I got hurt. I'm sure that's going to be tough to overcome, he said.

Still, watching is driving him crazy. Before the injury, he was hitting just .152 with one homer and 11 RBI.

"I love the game and love to be out there competing," he said. "At the same time, I was obviously struggling and putting pressure on myself. Maybe it was good to sit back and watch the game."

Colorado rewarded Tulowitzki's sensational rookie season with a new $31 million, six-year deal in the offseason. Tulowitzki helped the Rockies to their first NL pennant with his reliable fielding and clutch hitting.

He's eager to get back on the field.

"I watch games all the time," Tulowitzki said. "I watch some of the good hitters on the team and what they do. I know a lot about our team now."