Tulo marvels at Story
Tulowitzki says Rockies’ shortstop has natural talent – and work ethic
Watching from afar, Troy Tulowitzki is like most within baseball. He can’t help but marvel at Rockies shortstop Trevor Story.
Tulowitzki, the former Rockies allstar who was traded to the Blue Jays in 2015, recalls meeting his heir apparent at spring training in 2012, less than a year after Colorado drafted Story.
“The first time I met him, he was in one of those back cages at Salt River Fields just taking some front toss and hitting,” Tulowitzki said. “He was … different than the rest of the kids down there.”
Different how, Tulowitzki still can’t quite put his finger on. As he points out, plenty of talented ballplayers get to the big leagues and wash out, and just as many with less skill somehow scrap their way to success.
But what Tulowitzki first got a gauge of that day, and came to understand in the years afterward while developing a relationship with the younger ballplayer, was that Story had the best traits of both.
“Trevor’s got the natural talent, as most firstround (draft) picks do, but he also has the work ethic and the mindset,” Tulowitzki said. “It’s awesome to see him have the success he’s having. He deserves it.”
It’s high praise from a guy whose marks are being eclipsed by Story at a rapid pace in a historic season. Story, 25, broke Tulowitzki’s National League rookie home run record for a
shortstop with 27 in just 97 games in 2016. This year, Story surpassed his predecessor’s singleseason club records for a shortstop with 33 home runs (so far) and total bases (313).
To Tulowitzki, the elevated consistency in Story’s third season speaks volumes about Story’s ability to continue his eyepopping offensive production for years to come.
“Last year, Trevor was the first one to say he didn’t have the year he wanted to have, but he’s gotten a lot better in every aspect of his game,” Tulowitzki said. “That’s what it’s all about, and it shows in his progression as a true hitter.”
Inside the turnaround
The progression from a season ago is eye opening. A year ago, Story led the National League with 191 strikeouts. It appeared pitchers had figured him out. But better weight distribution at the plate, tempered head movement and an altered swing path have enabled him to blossom into an MVP candidate.
And mentally, Story’s increased success has been a matter of a heightened firstpitch aggressiveness and more discipline at every count. With a 00 count, Story ranked seventh in the majors with a .962 slugging percentage heading into the final month. His 163 strikeouts entering the weekend are a team high, but down 8.9 percent from a year ago.
“He’s turned himself into one of those players that, when he steps in the box, you pay attention because there’s always a good chance he’s going to do something special,” Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland said. “He took a lot of those K’s from last year and is turning them into homers, clutch hits this year.”
The power and pizzazz Story brings to the shortstop position have drawn comparisons by fans to Tulowitzki, who has missed most of the past year and a half with Toronto due to a variety of injuries.
“There’s not too many shortstops who have hit 30 home runs, so there’s definitely that power comparison,” Tulowitzki said. “And we’re both bigger guys, but we play the position of shortstop differently. The speed element he brings is obviously additional.”
To be routinely brought up in the same sentence as a guy who once showed him the majorleague ropes is humbling for Story.
“I looked up to Tulo a lot, and still do,” Story said. “He taught me a lot and was one of my mentors. It’s cool to compare or whatever, but I’ll leave that to everybody else.”
Setting a new standard
Thing is, “everybody else” is concerned about more than just True vs. Tulo Venn diagrams, as Story’s slugging, speed and Gold Glovecaliber play have put him in elite company, with the potential to surpass the fivetime allstar Tulowitzki.
A few weeks ago, Story became the first shortstop to record 40 doubles, 30 home runs, and 25 stolen bases in a single season. He’s also already bested the mark for most home runs by a shortstop through his first three seasons with 84, including a 504foot blast on Sept. 5 that’s the longest home run by any player in the Statcast era. And he’s only the second shortstop in the history of the game to post 30 home runs, 100 RBIS and 20 steals in one season – the other being future Hall of Famer Alex Rodriguez, who did it twice with the Mariners.
“To be the only one in the same stat as Arod, that says something by itself,” Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “There’s been a lot of good shortstops in this game and no one else has ever done that but Trev and Arod. It’s pretty remarkable.”
Story’s not getting caught up in all the hype, however, as he mends for the final week of the regular season from right elbow inflammation that caused him to miss most of the series against the Dodgers last week.
He’s “flattered to be in the MVP conversation, but more focused on the team,” and that lockedin way of conducting business is not lost on anyone in the clubhouse.
“I talk to Story all the time about the way he prepares every day, his routine, his hitting, his fielding — I’m trying to learn the best I can and soak everything in,” rookie infielder Garrett Hampson said. “It’s pretty rare to have a guy with that much talent and power, putting up the season he’s having at the plate, right here in the clubhouse.”