Wolters’ heart, hustle worthy of honor
Tony Wolters’ play this season continues to turn heads.
The Rockies catcher on Tuesday was named the team recipient of the 2019 Heart and Hustle Award, which honors players “who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”
Wolters leads all full-time National League catchers with a .289 batting average this year and has recorded 25 RBIs while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense behind the dish. As he explained, being picked for the award meant more to him than just recognition for his on-field accomplishments.
“I passionately love this game,” Wolters said. “Baseball’s taught me so much: how to get along with people, how to work hard, how to achieve something, how to dream of something, how to love something. Hustle and heart, it’s not just on the field for me. It (translates) off the field.”
Colorado manager Bud Black echoed that sentiment, noting the catcher who earned the nickname “Papers” for his habit of carrying a large stack of scouting reports around the clubhouse has earned the respect of his teammates and the opposition alike.
“With Tony, the heart and hustle is evident,” Black said, adding that Wolters is “a tremendous listener. Sometimes to a fault — by trying too hard to take all this information and put it to use. He’s becoming a very good student by taking all the coaching and putting it into play.”
The final, overall winner for the Heart and Hustle Award, chosen from the 30 individual team winners, will be announced Nov. 7 in New York. The Heart and Hustle is the only major-league award voted on by former players.
Last year, shortstop Trevor Story won the club’s Heart and Hustle Award, while Red Sox outfielder and American League MVP Mookie Betts won the overall Heart and Hustle Award. Former Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu, now with the New York Yankees, was his team’s Heart and Hustle winner this season.
Rodgers out for season.
It appears Brendan Rodgers’ rookie season has come to an end.
The infielder, who went on the injured list June 25 with a right shoulder impingement, posted a photo on his Instagram account Tuesday night showing himself in a hospital bed.
The caption to the photo read: “Feeling pain today so I can feel strength tomorrow. Ready to turn this into my greatest comeback yet. See you in 2020.”
The rookie underwent surgery Tuesday in New York to repair a labral tear of his right shoulder.
Rodgers, 22, hit .224 with seven RBIs and no homers in 25 games this year after making his debut May 17. He was a first-round draft pick in 2015 out of Lake Mary High School (Lake Mary, Fla.), when Colorado selected him No. 3 overall.