Rox rookie Butler to begin rehab assignment soon

DENVER -- Rockies right-hander Eddie Butler will likely begin his rehab assignment in four or five days despite a blood blister reappearing in Tuesday's 45-pitch simulated game.

The blood blister first sprung up toward the end of Saturday's 35-pitch live batting practice session against Carlos Gonzalez. Considering Butler feels fully healed from the right rotator cuff inflammation that originally sent him to the disabled list on June 9, he isn't going to let this blister stop him.

"[The blood blister] came back today on the second-to-last pitch," Butler said after facing Charlie Culberson Tuesday. "Just going to get it drained … it's going to be a constant thing."

After throwing without any breaks in between Saturday's session, Butler's outing on Tuesday was split into three increments of 15 pitches. He gave up a double and a walk but said he felt great endurance-wise even after running the bases.

Manager Walt Weiss confirmed that a rehab assignment is Butler's next step, but didn't divulge his exact start date.

"Eddie should be going out soon," Weiss said. "He threw today and looked great. We'll make sure he checks out well tomorrow, then make a decision."

Butler made the leap from Double-A Tulsa for his Major League debut on June 6, but he was shut down three days later after experiencing increased soreness in his pitching shoulder. In that outing against the Dodgers, Butler surrendered six earned runs off 10 hits and three walks. He also struck out two across 5 1/3 innings.