TUCSON, Ariz. -- Troy Tulowitzki's hopes for landing the Rockies' starting shortstop job were dealt a potential blow when he was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in Saturday's split-squad game against the Padres in Peoria, Ariz.

Tulowitzki left the game with a contusion on his right wrist and will get X-rays taken Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. An initial exam showed no obvious break.

Doug Brocail was pitching to Tulowitzki in the fifth inning when he hit the shortstop prospect. Tulowitzki had a double in his previous at-bat, driving in the Rockies' only run of the game up to that point.

Tulowitzki left the game hitting .385 (5-for-13) with two doubles and four RBIs. He has been in a head-to-head competition with last year's starting shortstop, Clint Barmes, who has come on strong with four hits in the past two days to raise his spring average to .316 with two doubles and two RBIs.

"Barmes made a couple adjustments before yesterday's game, and he's been able to take them into the game and shorten his swing up," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's quicker to the ball. Not as much going on, not as many things have to happen for him to get into position to hit. Hopefully we've added by subtracting some things. He's looked better the last two days at the plate."

The contusion is likely to set Tulowitzki back at least a couple of days, but if there is a break, he would be unlikely to be playing at any level on Opening Day.

The Rockies have depth in the infield, with Barmes and Tulowitzki competing at shortstop, Kaz Matsui the likely second baseman, Garrett Atkins at third, Todd Helton at first, and Jamey Carroll, last year's starting second baseman, able to play at second, short, and third.

Additionally, Ian Stewart is a top prospect at third and is hitting .316 (6-for-19) with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs. Omar Quintanilla has 50 big-league games under his belt at short and second and is hitting .500 (4-for-8) in the spring with two triples a double and three RBIs.

Gone fishin': Jason Hirsh was on the hook for the loss when he left the game Saturday, reeled in by seven White Sox runs on seven hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings. The best part of his day came when he left the field and saw Ryan Spilborghs hit a game-tying RBI triple to start a five-run rally, establishing a lead the Rockies would never relinquish.

"Spit the hook!" Hirsh said as his day was saved and the tide turned for his team.

"My 'A' stuff definitely wasn't there," Hirsh said. "I definitely didn't have a slider of any sort. It was really flat. I was trying to throw strikes early. It worked in the first, but obviously I got away from that later as my command started going. I started getting behind a lot of guys and having to throw pitches that are too good. The results speak for that."

As a candidate for the rotation, Hirsh knows he needs to produce results. He describes himself as a slow starter, taking some time to get his mechanics and timing to fall into place, but pitching coach Bob Apodaca stressed that the Rockies are eager to see him produce early.

"We want to see what Mr. Hirsh brings to the table," Apodaca said before the game. "He's been 27-4 in Triple-A the last two years. I want to see what that 27-4 looks like, and he hasn't disappointed us."

In his past two scoreless outings, Hirsh had shown an ability to stay ahead in the count, to pitch inside effectively, to keep the ball in the bottom of the strike zone and to use off-speed pitches for outs when he fell behind in counts. Saturday was a different story, but not necessarily a disappointment.

"He seemed a little antsy," Hurdle observed. "A little quick. He seemed to get in a hurry and couldn't quite slow things down and get out of getting in a hurry."

Missing man: Todd Helton was absent from the lineup again Saturday. Though Helton was never officially in the lineup, Spilborghs seemed to be occupying his spot hitting cleanup as the designated hitter.

Helton was scratched a week ago and played in games Monday and Tuesday, but has not played since, including another scratch Thursday. With the Rockies at home the next three days, he has ample opportunity to get back into the lineup if the inflammation in his right knee permits.

"He worked out pretty good today and we put him through some drills," Hurdle said. "We do have a 'B' game coming up when we travel to Surprise Wednesday. Todd could go over there and get 15 at-bats, or as many as he can handle."

Helton's absence has given Hurdle the opportunity to experiment with the men who would likely fill in for him whenever he rests during the season.

"[Jeff] Baker's picking up innings, because he's going to pick some up there during the season," Hurdle said. "If [John] Mabry makes the team, he can get a spot start at first now and then. In [Helton's] absence, we've been able to get better and longer looks at people quicker."

Hurdle also mentioned non-roster invitee and five-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder Steve Finley as a potential first-base fill-in.

"He's fooled around a little bit there in the past," Hurdle pointed out. "I saw him taking ground balls three different days with Helton. I don't think he'd be a reach by any stretch of the imagination. We've talked about it inside. He moves good."

On deck: The Rockies host the Royals at 1:05 p.m. MT Sunday, throwing Byung-Hyun Kim and Josh Fogg against Kansas City's Joakim Soria.