GOODBYE TU YOU
Troy Tulowitzki, who played five games for Yanks, hangs ’em up for good
BOSTON — It was just five games. That's all Troy Tulowitzki got as a Yankee, it was all his body could handle in what turned out to be his final major-league season. The fivetime All-Star shortstop announced Thursday that he was retiring from the game.
“For as long as I can remember, my dream was to compete at the highest level as a Major League Baseball Player … to wear a big-league uniform and play hard for my teammates and the fans. I will forever be grateful for every day that I've had to live out my dream,” Tulowitzki said in a statement released by the Yankees before Thursday's series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. “It has been an absolute honor.”
Tulowitzki hit .290/.361/ .495 over 13 major-league seasons. He compiled 225 home runs and 780 RBI in 1,291
games played. Tulowitzki was a two-time Gold Glover who played shortstop in his own, “Tulo-y,” way.
“What I'll remember is obviously a great player and a guy that played a great shortstop, who played it in such a unique way, with a flair and the way he moved and played on the run and threw from different angles,” Aaron Boone said. “Watching him this spring, the way I put it is, he looked at home out there playing shortstop. I know he loves this game. We certainly wish him well.”
The Yankees signed him to a major-league contract this winter with the idea that he could fill in the gap as they waited as starting shortstop Didi Gregorius rehabbed from Tommy John surgery. The 34-year-old had played just 66 games since 2017 and was coming off major surgery on his feet.
“I want to thank the Yankees organization and Brian Cashman for giving me the opportunity to wear the Yankees uniform and live out another childhood dream,” said Tulowitzki, who has always been open about his love of the Yankees and Derek Jeter. “I wish that my health had allowed for a different ending to that chapter.”
Tulowitzki's health has long been the issue and it was showing on the field.
Since he was traded by the Rockies to the Blue Jays in 2015, Tulowitzki had a dramatic drop off in production. In 238 games with the Blue Jays he slashed .250/.313/.414 with 36 home runs and 122 RBI.
He dealt with nagging injuries and his 2017 season was ended with a gruesome injury. He broke his ankle, landing on another player's foot while trying to beat out an infield single. He recovered from the broken ankle and ligament tear, but last spring he had to have the surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels.
That was ultimately why the Blue Jays decided to eat the remaining $38 million on his contract and cut him last December.
Toronto GM Ross Atkins reasoned “he will have to overachieve to play shortstop at an above-average level with above-average offensive performance for 140 games” and that “would be unlikely based on what has occurred in the last two and a half years.”
STEPPING BACK
Reliever Dellin Betances took his first throws at 90 feet Thursday afternoon, while Luis Severino took 50 throws at 75 feet and expects to move back to 90 feet on Saturday. They are steps forward in the pitchers' progression back from shoulder and lat injuries, but both are weeks away and have many hurdles to clear. Neither has thrown a pitch in a game this season.
NO RO’
The Yankees went with Kyle Higashioka behind the plate to catch Masahiro Tanaka as Austin Romine took a seat. But Romine would appear later in the game — as Yankee pitcher with the game well out of hand in the bottom of the eighth inning. He gave up three earned runs for a 27.00 ERA.