Tucson – Troy Tulowitzki’s youthful dream came true and bulldog right-hander Josh Fogg claimed the Rockies’ fifth starter job Friday.
The 22-year-old Tulowitzki became the starting shortstop when Clint Barmes, the opening-day starter the last two years, was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Outfielder Cory Sullivan and right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez also were optioned to the Sky Sox.
Fogg clinched the last spot in the rotation when Byung-Hyun Kim was moved to the bullpen.
Tulowitzki reached the major leagues in a flash. When he was called up late last season, it had been just one year and 83 days since the Rockies drafted him out of Long Beach State. No drafted Rockies position player ever moved up faster.
Now he’ll line up against the Diamondbacks on April 2 when Coors Field is decked out in red-white-and-blue bunting. He’ll likely be teaming up with his good friend, 23-year-old catcher Chris Iannetta, giving the club talent, youth – and inexperience – up the middle.
“I’m excited, but I still have a job to do,” Tulowitzki said. “It’s a big step for me. As a kid you dream about starting on opening day. For me, I’ve always wanted to be a shortstop in the majors. This is huge for me.”
Perhaps the best homegrown prospect in Rockies history, Tulowitzki beat out Barmes not only because of his terrific potential, but because he’s hit the ball better this spring. Tulowitzki is batting .342 with five doubles and six RBIs. Barmes, still struggling to find his swing, is hitting .229 with three doubles and three RBIs.
“I think you need to give credit where credit is due and Tulowitzki made good advancement,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He came into compete. Barmes came into compete. The competition was brisk early, but then I think Tulo was able to put some distance between them. Offensively, we’ve seen Tulowitzki show up a little better.”
Tulowitzki came into camp believing that if he improved as a hitter he would win the job. He hit .240 in 25 games with the Rockies last season.
“I pretty much knew that’s what it would come down to,” he said. “We are both pretty good at defense, but offensively I knew (Barmes) had struggled in the past and was still trying to figure things out. Where I just felt that I was a young hitter doing the right things.”
Fogg, a battler who posted double-digit wins in four of his last five seasons, has been much more consistent than Kim. Fogg joins Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Rodrigo Lopez and rookie Jason Hirsh in the rotation.
“Josh likes to compete,” Hurdle said. “He’s not anxious about it, he didn’t back down from it, didn’t shy away from it. He’s had to compete most of the time he’s been on the baseball field. This was another opportunity to do that and he did it well.”
The Rockies have been looking to trade Kim, but there’s been more interest in him as a reliever than as a starter. If Kim pitches well in the final days of spring, his value as a reliever could increase. For now, he’ll battle Manny Corpas and Ramon Ramirez for the two remaining bullpen spots.
Earlier this week, Kim said he was intent on remaining a starter, but pitching coach Bob Apodaca said Kim must have an open mind at this point in his career.
“I think he’s got to realize that this is where he can possibly help this team the most,” Apodaca said. “He doesn’t have to like it, but he has to accept it.”
Kim knew success early in his career as a closer with the Diamondbacks, but he later faltered as a reliever with the Diamondbacks and Red Sox. Hurdle said it’s time for Kim to try again.
“It’s kind of like pulling a hamstring,” Hurdle said. “You don’t pull it forever. It gets well and it might be time to check it out again.”
The move of Sullivan to Triple-A virtually assures 42-year-old Steve Finley of the role as backup center fielder to Willy Taveras.
The Rockies also reassigned right-handed reliever Matt Herges, left-handed reliever Mike Gallo, and infielder Erick Almonte to the minor-league camp.
Right-handed reliever Danny Graves was released.
Friday’s moves leave the Rockies with 31 players on their spring roster, including right-handed pitchers Brian Lawrence and Dave Veres, both of whom are expected to open the season in extended spring training.
The Rockies still must decide which position player earns the final roster spot. The battle appears to be coming down to left-handed-hitting John Mabry, who can play first, third and the outfield, or right-handed-hitting outfielder Ryan Spilborghs.
