Tulowitzki sees hope for his future
Toronto’s Troy Tulowitzki insists he wants to regain his job as the everyday shortstop for the Blue Jays next season, even though the five-time All-Star has not played in more than a year.
Tulowitzki, who had surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels in early April, was ruled out for the season Saturday. He expects to be healthy in time for spring training.
“It’s been a tough year, to say the least,” Tulowitzki said Sunday. “I went out to Florida, was out there on those back fields almost every day trying to go and it just didn’t respond the way I needed to come back and play every day.”
The Blue Jays have used eight players at shortstop in Tulowitzki’s absence, with Aledmys Diaz getting the bulk of the playing time. Tulowitzki, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, said he has no interest in shifting positions when he returns, and is happy to compete for his job.
“I welcome anything,” Tulowitzki said. “If someone’s better than me, I’ll pack my bags and go home.”
Tulowitzki is owed $20 million next season and $14 million in 2020. He has a $15 million club option for 2021 with a $4 million buyout.
The bone spurs bothered Tulowitzki during his offseason recovery from surgery to repair the ligament damage and fracture suffered when he stepped on C.J. Cron’s foot while trying to beat out an infield hit in a July 2017 game against the Angels. Tulowitzki has not played since then. Loss within a win: Washington reliever Kelvin Herrera was carted off the field with one out to go in his team’s 15-0 win over the Mets after he was injured while fielding Jose Bautista’s grounder. Herrera fielded the ball, then hopped toward first.
Herrera was on crutches and was wearing a walking boot after the game.
The Nationals said they didn’t yet have an update on his injury, though manager Dave Martinez said the issue was with Herrera’s foot and not his Achilles. McCullers update: Houston manager A.J. Hinch said he does not expect Lance McCullers Jr. to rejoin the rotation when he returns from a forearm injury. McCullers, on the disabled list since Aug. 5, is expected back next month.
“He’s feeling pretty symptomfree,” Hinch said of McCullers. “I think his throwing has been fine, but kind of the re-evaluation of him, we’ve decided to push it back.” Injury report: Seattle reliever Juan Nicasio, on the DL since Aug. 3 because of inflammation in his right knee, will undergo season-ending knee surgery, manager Scott Servais said. “I was really, really hoping to have him back,” Servais told MLB.com. “You’ve got to have your legs under you to pitch, and he didn’t feel comfortable there.” ... The Cardinals activated reliever Dominic Leone from the 60-day DL and placed reliever Mike Mayers on the 10-day DL because of right shoulder inflammation . ... Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, on the DL since July 26 because of a left shoulder inflammation, will begin a rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa on Monday. Briefly: Atlanta recalled infielder Rio Ruiz from Triple-A Gwinnett and announced that former Giants catcher Chris Stewart has been designated for assignment . ... The Tigers recalled left-hander Josh Smoker from Triple-A Toledo.