PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 05: Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies can only smile as he walks back to the dugout after striking out against Ian Kennedy #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during a MLB game at Chase Field on June 5, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Helton had season-ending surgery on Aug. 10 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.
Helton told The Denver Post that he intends to return in 2013 to play out the final year of his contract. He turned 39 last month.
Tracy says he thinks Helton can bounce back with a good season. Helton is a lifetime .320 hitter, but batted a career-low .238 in 69 games.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)