TORONTO -- Blue Jays manager John Gibbons delivered an update regarding the status of injured shortstop Troy Tulowitzki prior to the series opener against the American League East-leading Orioles on Thursday.
Tulowitzki has been out since May 27 with soreness in his right quadriceps muscle and is inching closer to a return to game action. The 31-year-old has been down in Dunedin, Fla. at the Blue Jays' Minor League complex and began hitting off a tee earlier in the week.
"He ran the bases today and felt pretty good," Gibbons said. "I think he's going to play in an extended [spring camp] game tomorrow, and the next day, he'll play for [Class A] Dunedin. I think that's the tentative plan."
Barring any setbacks, Tulowitzki is expected to rejoin the Blue Jays early next week. The shortstop has had a difficult start to the season, hitting .204 with a .673 OPS while committing seven errors, but he was batting .288 with a .903 OPS in 14 games prior to the DL stint.
Darwin Barney has received a majority of the reps at shortstop in Tulowitzki's absence, and he is hitting a career-best .321 with three home runs and nine RBIs.