Troy Tulowitzki Placed on 60-Day DL; Blue Jays Star Dealing with Heel Injury

Adam Wells @adamwells1985Featured ColumnistMarch 29, 2018

TORONTO, ON - JULY 28: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Toronto Blue Jays is helped off the field by trainers George Poulis and Mike Frostad after injuring his ankle in the third inning during MLB game action against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre on July 28, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki continues to battle injuries and will miss most of the first half of the 2018 season.

Prior to Thursday's season opener against the New York Yankees, the Blue Jays announced they have placed Tulowitzki on the 60-day disabled list with bilateral heel bone spurs.

The move comes after Tulowitzki missed the final 59 games of 2017 with an ankle injury.

Even when Tulo was healthy last season, he never found a groove. The five-time All-Star hit .249/.300/.378 with seven home runs in 66 games. His .678 OPS was his lowest since his 25-game debut for the Colorado Rockies at the end of the 2006 season.

Since playing 143 games in 2011, Tulowitzki has only reached the 100-game barrier three times in six seasons.

The Blue Jays are accustomed to playing without Tulowitzki in their lineup. Manager John Gibbons will likely turn to Aledmys Diaz, who Toronto acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in December, at shortstop.

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