Shortstops Chris Nelson and Hector Gomez, both of whom have been plagued by injuries, are again sidelined. Gomez is expected to return soon, but Nelson is headed to extended spring training.

Gomez, who is playing for Double-A Tulsa, developed lower back spasms after being taken out trying to turn a double play April 9 in the Drillers second game of the season. He left that game in the top of the fifth inning and hasn’t played since, but Gomez is expected to return during the Drillers series at San Antonio, which starts Sunday April 18.

Nelson, who has yet to play this season for Triple-A Colorado Springs, is scheduled to go to extended spring training in Tucson that same Sunday. Just before the Rockies left spring training in Arizona, Nelson strained his left oblique and abdominal area swinging a bat. Having missed better than two weeks, Nelson will need to get at-bats in extended spring before he’s ready to begin his 2010 season.

Infielder Warren Schaeffer was brought up from high Class A Modesto to replace Nelson on the Colorado Springs roster. The 25-year-old Schaeffer, a utility type who can play all four infield positions, played second base in his first two games with the Sky Sox (Jonathan Herrera played shortstop) and has gone 3-for-9 with a triple, homer and five RBI. The Rockies drafted Schaeffer in the 37th round out of Virginia Tech in 2007, and this is his first appearance above the Double-A level.

Progress has been slow for Nelson, 24, the ninth player taken overall in the 2004 draft. He returned to Modesto briefly to start the 2008 season before moving up to Double-A Tulsa where he hit .237/.324/.346 in 73 games with three homers and 42 RBI before a broken left hamate bone ended his season.
In 2009, Nelson hit .280/.355/.477 at Tulsa where he played just 29 games, the last on May 22 when he tore a ligament in his right wrist and underwent surgery.

Gomez, 22, played the first game of the 2008 season at Modesto and then missed the entire season. He suffered a stress fracture when he fouled a ball off his left shin in that game and then while rehabilitating from that injury blew out his elbow, necessitating Tommy John surgery in June. Last year, Gomez hit .275/.310/.423 in 83 games at Modesto with seven homers and 46 RBI. A groin injury sidelined him for much of June.