Rockies place INF Todd Helton on 15-Day DL

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has placed infielder Todd Helton on the 15-day disabled list with left forearm inflammation retroactive to April 20. To replace Helton on the active roster, the Rockies have recalled infielder Ryan Wheeler from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Wheeler (#12) will be in uniform and available for tonight's game at Arizona (7:40 p.m. MDT).

Helton, 39, has appeared in 13 games for the Rockies this season batting .268 (11-for-41) with three doubles, one home run and 10 RBI. With his start at first base on Opening Day, Helton made his 16th-straight start at first base on Opening Day for the Rockies, which is the most for one player on the same team among all active MLB players. Helton is the Rockies all-time leader in games (2,136), at bats (7,606), runs (1,363), hits (2,431), doubles (573), home runs (355), RBI (1,355) and walks (1,299). He was the Rockies first round pick (eighth overall) of the 1995 Draft out of Tennessee.

Wheeler, 24, spent his first Spring Training with Colorado before beginning the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs. At Colorado Springs, he hit .348 (16-for-46) in 15 games with four doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI and 10 runs scored. He's hit safely in each of his last six games going 10-for-22 and has an RBI in each of his last three games. He made his Major League debut last season for Arizona on July 20 against Houston and played in 50 games the rest of the year while hitting .239 (26-for-109). Wheeler was acquired last offseason in a trade with Arizona for left-handed pitcher Matt Reynolds

The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.