Troy Tulowitzki, Shortstop, Retired


Date of Birth: 10/10/1984
Birthplace: Santa Clara, California
College: California State University, Long Beach
Nickname: Tulo

Troy Tulowitzki, retired shortstop, first started playing with the Colorado Rockies in August, 2006. In 25 games that season, he had a .240 batting average with 1 home run, 2 doubles and 6 RBIs. The following season, Tulowitzki became known in the baseball world for his fielding at shortstop as well as his ability with the bat. He finished the 2007 season with a .291 batting average, 24 home runs, 5 triples, 33 doubles, and 99 RBIs.

In 2008, plagued by injuries, Tulowitzki played in only 101 games. His hitting prowess dropped significantly from the previous year and he ended the 2008 season with a batting average of .263 and with only 8 home runs, 2 triples, 24 doubles, and 46 RBIs. In following seasons, Tulowitzki once again showed his early promise, winning both Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in 2010 and 2011.

In 2013, Tulowitzki had a fractured rib and he played in just 126 games. He batted .312 with 139 hits, 27 doubles, 25 home runs, and 82 RBIs. He again suffered from injuries in 2014, playing in just 91 games. He finished the season with 107 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a career high batting average of.340.

Tulowitzki signed a six year extension to his contract with the Rockies, valued at around $120 million, at the end of November, 2010.

Tulowitzki, who didn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Reyes on July 27, 2015. He finished the 2015 season with 136 hits, 27 doubles, 17 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .280 batting average in 87 games with the Rockies and 41 games with the Blue Jays. As a shortstop in 121 games, he made 361 assists, 85 double plays, 153 putouts, and 8 errors. In postseason play, he had 9 hits, including 2 doubles and 2 home runs, and 11 RBIs in 44 at-bats in 11 games.

In 131 games in 2016, Tulowitzki batted .254 with 125 hits, 21 doubles, 24 home runs, and 79 RBIs. As the Blue Jays' shortstop in 128 games, he made 366 assists, 72 double plays, 158 putouts, and 9 errors. In postseason play, he batted just .229 with 8 hits, including a triple and a home run, and 5 RBIs in 35 at-bats in 9 games.

Tulowitzki spent most of the 2017 season on the DL, playing in just 66 games with the Blue Jays. He batted .249 with 60 hits. Defensively, as the Blue Jays' shortstop in 64 games, he made 188 assists, 41 double plays, 68 putouts, and 8 errors.

Tulowitzki missed the entire 2018 season due to surgery for a bone spur in his ankle.

The Blue Jays released Tulowitzki on December 11, 2018. He signed with the New York Yankees on January 4, 2019.

After injuries kept him on the IL for most of the first half of the 2019 season, Tulowitzki retired on July 25, 2019. The University of Texas at Austin hired him that same day as an assistant coach for their baseball team.

Statistics for Tulowitzki in his twelve seasons (2006-2017) in the major leagues include:

  • 4 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .340 in 2010
  • 3 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 177 in 2007
  • 3 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 36 in 2011
  • 7 seasons with over 20 home runs, with a high of 32 in 2009

Career batting statistics for Tulowitzki through 2018 include:

  • 1,286 games played
  • 1,389 hits
  • 263 doubles
  • 224 home runs
  • 779 RBIs
  • 896 strikeouts to 509 walks
  • .290 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Tulowitzki at shortstop through 2018 include:

  • 1,264 games played
  • 3,882 assists
  • 871 double plays
  • 1,942 putouts
  • 91 errors
  • .985 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Tulowitzki and his wife Danyll were married in November, 2009.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Troy Tulowitzki
ESPN Sports - Troy Tulowitzki