Injured Tulo says his great days are not behind him

Bristles at suggestion he’s lost a step or two

Troy Tulowitzki was all smiles as he limped into the dugout at Rogers Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

The Blue Jays’ shortstop arrived back in Toronto to have the cast over his injured right ankle removed. And though he confirmed that he is out for the rest of the season and faces difficult off- season rehab, he’s happy there’s some light at the end of the tunnel and is again with his teammates.

“Yesterday was a big day for me, I got out of my cast so I’m in a walking boot now and able to do a little bit more,” said Tulowitzki, who went on the 60- day DL on July 29. “More than anything, it’s been nice to come here and see the guys, catch up with them. You miss them, man. When you’re just sitting at home, watching games on TV and texting guys, FaceTime or whatever, but there’s nothing like seeing these guys. It’s like family.”

The normally reserved infielder was as personable with the Toronto media as he’s ever been — until someone asked him, when he comes back next season, if he feels that physically he is not the same player he once was, would he consider moving to another position?

Tulowitzki did a slow burn.

Basically, he said, that will NEVER happen, even when various advanced stats and metrics — and just watching the guy play every day — indicate that he has lost a step and is just not the shortstop he was when he was named to five All-Star games and won two Gold Gloves.

“It’s really far from my mind. I’ ve had to answer pretty much that same question since I came out of college,” he said. “So now I’m sitting here, I’m 32 years old, almost 33, and I get asked the same question. I think you guys know how serious I am about that position and I’ ll be the first one to say, ‘ Hey, I’m not getting the job done.’

“But I feel like I bring a lot to the table defensively. And I think sometimes what people read into is the metrics, the zone range or whatever. But so much of shortstop is being able to slow the game down for your teammates and your pitchers and taking charge in the infield.”