Troy Tulowitzki (Shoulder) Could Be Back Next Week

Troy Tulowitzki could be back in the Toronto Blue Jays lineup during the final week of the 2015 season.

The Toronto shortstop has been out of action since Sept. 12 with a small fracture in his shoulder after he collided with his teammate. Tulowitzki hasn’t swung a bat, but he went through infield practice with no setbacks.

“When I first got this injury I was in a lot of pain, but as the days have gone on the pain’s died down. I feel better each and every day," Tulowitzki told Sportsnet.ca.

The five-time All-Star won’t be playing in the weekend series, which is the final regular season home series for the Blue Jays. They will likely win the AL East for the first time since 1993. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons thinks it is possible that Tulowitzki will be out there next week to get himself ready for the postseason.

“I don’t know if it’s overly optimistic but maybe (he could return) sometime in that Baltimore series, but I guess that’s possible,” Gibbons said. “I’m definitely hoping maybe by Tampa. That’s all we have left, really. But he’s moving in the right direction. We’ll see. It’s one of those things, he’s getting better but you can’t put a date on it. It’s one of those kinds of deals.”