Colorado Rockies: A Mile High history of shortstops from Weiss to Story

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DENVER, CO – JUNE 23: Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies throws out a runner against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on June 23, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 10-5. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Finally getting it right

A long history of trying to get it right finally came to fruition when the Rockies drafted a young kid out of Long Beach State. He would begin to turn the team around and change the course of Colorado sports lore as we all know it forever.

Troy Tulowitzki became a staple, an icon, for the Rockies. He would earn the nickname ‘Tulo’ and became one of the faces of the franchise. At 21 years of age, Tulowitzki appeared in 25 games in ’06. He slashed a porous .240/.318/.292 with a home run and six RBI.

In 2007, still considered a rookie, Tulowitzki played 155 games, recorded 609 at-bats, slashed .291/.359/.479 with 24 home runs and 99 RBI, and finished only behind Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun for National League Rookie of the Year. That year the Rockies made a magical run to the World Series, as Tulowitzki would find himself as an integral part of that team, and would only continue to get better.

His next five years in Colorado, Tulowitzki slashed .295/.367/.521. He averaged 21 home runs per season, only a 14.4% strikeout rate, along with a .380 wOBA and 124 wRC+. In 2009 and 2010, Tulowitzki finished fifth in MVP voting; in 2010 and 2011 an All-Star, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger winner. Unfortunately, Tulowitzki was plagued with many injuries, and in 2015, the team traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays for a package which included once All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes.

Reyes played just 47 games in a Rockies uniform before the club designated him for assignment.