Surgery to end Todd Helton's season, plans on playing in 2013

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton will undergo hip surgery, ending his 2012 season. Helton said he is having the surgery now so he will be ready for spring training.

By C. Trent Rosecrans

Aug 6, 2012 at 1:51 pm ET • 1 min read

Todd Helton plans on playing in 2013. (US Presswire)

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton will have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, ending his season, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

"The recovery time is about six months, so I am doing this now so I can be ready for spring training. I plan on playing next year," Helton told the Post.

Helton turns 39 later this month and has one more year on his contract worth $5 million. Helton was struggling this season, hitting just .238/.343/.400 with seven home runs this season. He is a career .320/.419/.545 hitter.

He played -- and hit third in the batting order -- on Sunday, going 1 for 4 with a double in the Rockies' loss to the Giants. He played in six games since coming off the disabled list, going 5 for 19 (.263) in that span.

Helton's been bothered by the hip injury all season and spent time on the 15-day disabled list last month with inflammation of the hip.