Colorado Rockies: Tony Wolters reflects on his history-making hit

The scene is still etched vividly in the minds of Colorado Rockies fans. October 2, 2018. Extra innings at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Game and the rest of the postseason hanging in the balance.

Catcher Tony Wolters, hitting .170 during the regular season, came into the Wild Card Game in the 12th inning on a double switch. When his turn in the Colorado Rockies batting order came up in the bottom of the 13th, Wolters stepped into the batter’s box and eventually into history.

Facing Kyle Hendricks with two outs, Wolters went down 0-2 in the count but sent a fastball back up the middle for a single to score Trevor Story. That hit would prove to be the difference and send Colorado on to the National League Division Series.

With the hit, Wolters would immediately cement his name into Rockies franchise lore. To this day, the emphatic face he made on first base after knowing the result of his hit is played on the Coors Field scoreboard and fans are asked to imitate it.

Check out the hit and the reaction of Wolters below.

On Tuesday, the Rockies will make their first visit to Wrigley Field since knocking the Cubs out of the playoffs last year. A lot has changed for the Rockies and Wolters, who enters the series in Chicago with a .303 average and with his name in the conversation for All-Star Game consideration behind the dish. He has also grown a mustache that has become a fan favorite in Denver and beyond.

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When I caught up with Wolters after Sunday’s win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field, he told me he hadn’t had the return trip to Chicago marked on his calendar. He says he will approach it like any other game the Rockies have this season.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Wolters said. “I know we’re excited to get there. I’m excited to help my team however I can. Everyone on this team has different roles and I want to do my role the best way. We’re in a good spot.”

The Rockies are indeed in a good spot, having gone 9-1 on their recent 10-game homestand before hitting the road to Chicago. So is Wolters, who hit .339 in May in 62 at-bats.

“I think I’m sticking to my approach and keeping my eyes in one spot,” Wolters said of his strong start to 2019. “There’s not too much different. I’m just trying to keep it simple.”

So did he watch the hit in the offseason that made him a Rockies postseason legend?

“I watched it but you turn the page. It’s a new year,” Wolters said. “They (the Cubs) are a good team and I’m just going to do my best to my job.”