BOSTON — Troy Tulowitzki, a five-time All-Star with the Rockies who has missed most of the past two seasons with leg injuries, announced his retirement on Thursday, more than three months after he played in his last game for the New York Yankees.
“For as long as I can remember, my dream was to compete at the highest level as a Major League Baseball player… to wear a big league uniform and play hard for my teammates and the fans,” he said in a statement issued by the Yankees before a series against Boston. “I will forever be grateful for every day that I’ve had to live out my dream. It has been an absolute honor.”
Tulowitzki was NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2007, when he helped the Rockies reach the World Series for the only time in franchise history. He finished in the top 10 of the NL MVP voting three straight years from 2009-11; in all, he received MVP votes in six seasons.
The Rockies traded him and relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2015 for pitching prospects Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman and Jesus Tinoco, and shortstop Jose Reyes. He hit .254 with 24 homers and 79 RBIs the next year, his last full season in the majors. He spent most of 2017 on the disabled list with ankle injuries, and then missed all of last season following April 2018 surgery on both heels.
The Yankees signed him in the offseason, and he won the shortstop job in spring training while starter Didi Gregorius opened the season on the injured list following Tommy John surgery. But Tulowitzki lasted just five games before going on the IL himself, straining his left calf on April 3.
“Even though injuries cut him short a little bit, it was a great career,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “What I’ll remember is obviously a great player and a guy that played shortstop, a great shortstop, but played it in such a unique way and with a flair. … He looked at home out there playing shortstop.”
Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said he learned a lot from Tulowitzki during their time together in Colorado and considered him like an older brother.
“Me and Charlie (Blackmon) and DJ (LeMahieu) are really the only guys left that really knew him and we really appreciated him. He showed us the way and he showed us how to work,” Arenado said after hearing about his retirement Thursday.
“I talk to Tulo all the time so I know a lot of things. I told him I love him like a brother and I appreciate what he did for me and for the game. I told him I hope he has no regrets and he said he didn’t. As long as Tulo’s happy, that’s what makes me happy.”
Tulowitzki was drafted by Colorado with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2005 MLB amateur draft out of Long Beach State. He spent 10 seasons with the Rockies, batting .299 with 188 home runs and 657 RBIs. He was a five-time all-star and won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger awards.
On April 29, 2007, he became the 13th player in major league history to record an unassisted triple play. Just 15 players have accomplished the feat. His 39.4 career WAR with Colorado is third all-time among Rockies players behind Todd Helton and Larry Walker.
Tulowitzki finished his career with a .290 average, 225 homers and 780 RBIs in 13 seasons. He is one of three shortstops in major league history with at least 20 home runs and a .290 average in six different seasons; the others are Alex Rodriguez (seven) and Nomar Garciaparra (six).
He wore No. 2 in honor of Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.
“I look forward to continuing my involvement in the game that I love… instructing and helping young players to achieve their goals and dreams,” he wrote. “I’m saying goodbye to Major League Baseball, but I will never say goodbye 2 the game I love. Thanks again 2 all of you!”
The Denver Post’s Joe Nguyen and Patrick Saunders contributed to this report.
