Rockies' Tulowitzki participates in on-field batting practice

DENVER -- Troy Tulowitzki tried to blend in as he took batting practice with the pitchers, not wanting to draw attention to himself.

The Colorado Rockies shortstop's long homers into the left-field seats were hard to ignore.

Tulowitzki took on-field batting practice Tuesday for the first time since tearing a quadriceps muscle on April 29.

He said he hasn't experienced any more pain from the injury, but doesn't know when he'll be back.

The slick-fielding, second-year shortstop may be out until the All-Star break as the Rockies take a cautious approach with his recovery.

"That's the smartest way," Tulowitzki said. "They know how I am and would try to play today if I could. They're taking good care of me."

He jumped into the cage on several occasions, alternating turns with pitchers like Ubaldo Jimenez, Josh Newman and Greg Reynolds.

"It was nice to get out there on the field and take some," he said.

As the Rockies regulars made their way onto the field, they stopped and gawked at Tulowitzki's powerful swings.

"Who's that?" Matt Holliday joked.

Tulowitzki just grinned and went about his business of crushing the baseball.

"It goes to show the guys care about me and definitely miss me," Tulowitzki said of the razzing he took from his teammates. "I'm looking forward to getting to play with them again."

Tulowitzki injured his quad while charging a grounder during the first inning in a game against San Francisco. He felt a "tweak" as he tried to make an off-balance throw.