USA Today reports:
Wearing a pinstriped New York Yankees jersey, Troy Tulowitzki savored every step of his spring training home run trot five months ago, his first at-bat in a big-league uniform since July 2017.
It was a personal triumph over a string of devastating injuries and a jab at anyone who doubted his comeback attempt.
Tulowitzki made it to the Bronx and homered again in a regular season Yankees game, but the injuries and the setbacks piled up quickly and the five-time All-Star shortstop eventually went home to Nevada.
“I knew it was probably going that way,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday, after Tulowitzki announced his retirement from baseball at age 34. “Even though injuries cut him short a bit, it was a great career.’’
As a kid, Tulowitzki idolized Derek Jeter and wore his No. 2 professionally.
He’d finally made it to the Yankees this winter, but the plan to be a placeholder for Didi Gregorius (recovering from Tommy John surgery) began to unravel when Tulowitzki landed back on the injured list with a strained left calf.
In his farewell announcement released through the Yankees, Tulowitzki thanked the organization and general manager Brian Cashman for the opportunity to “live out another childhood dream.
“I wish that my health had allowed for a different ending to that chapter.’’
A 'little extra fire'
A multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner, Tulowitzki batted .304 with a .912 OPS during his seven-year prime with the Colorado Rockies, though he averaged 115 games per year due to various injuries.
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