Colorado Rockies: Top Five Shortstops in Franchise History

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies looks on from the on-deck circle against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at O.co Coliseum on June 30, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies looks on from the on-deck circle against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at O.co Coliseum on June 30, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Colorado Rockies’ shortstop Neifi Perez throws the ball to first base after catching a ground ball to make the out during the home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado 12 April, 1999. The Rockies lost 8-5. (Photo by MARK LEFFINGWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies’ shortstop Neifi Perez throws the ball to first base after catching a ground ball to make the out during the home opener against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado 12 April, 1999. The Rockies lost 8-5. (Photo by MARK LEFFINGWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARK LEFFINGWELL/AFP via Getty Images)

Honorable Mention: Neifi Perez (-1.4 fWAR, 1.0 bWAR, parts of six seasons as a Rockie)

His WAR does not place Neifi Perez in this list and nor does his on-base or slugging abilities. However, his fielding was above average in most seasons and he even won a Gold Glove. In his last three full seasons as a Rockie (1998-2000), he only missed a total of five games, and all five were in 1999.

The Rockies traded him in the middle of the 2001 season for Jermaine Dye. The Rockies flipped Dye to the Oakland A’s on the same day for Todd Belitz, Mario Encarnacion, and Jose Ortiz.

Big mistake on the Rockies part as Dye was an All-Star in 2000 and had 118 and 119 RBIs the previous two seasons.

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Number 1: Troy Tulowitzki (33.9 fWAR, 39.5 bWAR, parts of 10 seasons as a Rockie)

No stunner here. Troy Tulowitzki is the best shortstop in Rockies history and he’s one of the best Rockies in history, in general.

If injuries hadn’t derailed his career, he’d likely be a Hall of Famer. In the parts of ten seasons as Rockie, he hit .299/.371/.513 with an OPS+ of 123. He was an All-Star five times, won two Gold Glove Awards, two Silver Slugger Awards, came in second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2007, and he ranked in MVP voting six times, including two Top 5 finishes in 2009 and 2010.

The Rockies traded him along with LaTroy Hawkins to the Blue Jays in July of 2015. In return, the Rockies got Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro, Jose Reyes, and Jesus Tinoco.

Hoffman and Tinoco are the only two left in the organization and neither has panned out for the Rockies at the major league level quite yet but the trade didn’t really work out for the Blue Jays either. Nonetheless, Tulowitzki is the best shortstop in Rockies’ history.

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