MLB

Troy Tulowitzki to miss Blue Jays' season-opener due to injury

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will not play Thursday afternoon's season-opening game against the visiting New York Yankees because of a bone spur on his right heel.

33-year-old shortstop has bone spur on right heel

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is not expected to play in the Blue Jays' home opener due to a bone spur on his right heel. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press )

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will not play Thursday afternoon's season-opening game against the visiting New York Yankees because of a bone spur on his right heel. 

Manager John Gibbons said recently that the 33-year-old Tulowitzki is making progress.

"He's moving in the right direction," Gibbons said.

Tulowitzki has been limited during spring training due to the chronic bone spur. His 2017 season ended on July 28 with a right ankle sprain, and he also sustained ligament damage.

Either Aledmys Diaz or Yangervis Solarte will likely replace Tulowitzki in the starting lineup when the Blue Jays open the season on March 29 when they will host the New York Yankees.

Tulowitzki hit .249 with seven home runs  in 66 games last season along with 26 runs batted in. He is a career .290 hitter with 224 home runs and 779 RBIs in 12 major league seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2006-2015) and Blue Jays (2015-17).