DUNEDIN, FLA.—If you lived purely in a baseball fantasy world, Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki would not be among your first half-dozen choices at his position. But this is the real world, and the total package Tulowitzki brings involves more than simply numbers. Quietly and unemotionally, he has taken over the Jays’ clubhouse.
“I’ll sit here after the game if these guys want to talk to me, hours upon hours. I’ll answer any question, give them any knowledge that I’ve had in this game — because it’s what I love doing,” the 32-year-old said. “Whether it be in the clubhouse or on the back fields or during a game, I’m always trying to better myself and better my teammates.”
There was a time not too long ago when Tulowitzki was considered the top young shortstop in the game — a fantasy beast, a big man who combined the power of Cal Ripken with the grace and defensive skills of Omar Vizquel.
Ten years later, after moving from the Rockies to the Jays, he can look around MLB and tip his hat to a new generation of young stars at his position, players like Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Xander Bogaerts, Addison Russell and others. Include the man who replaced him in Colorado, Trevor Story.
“I love it,” Tulowitzki admitted. “Because when I first came up, Nomar (Garciaparra), Derek (Jeter) and Alex (Rodriguez), all those guys, I was the young guy and they would have to answer questions about me, and I’d have to talk about how they were my role models and how I had posters of them in my room.
“Now I’m on the other end. I talk to Correa, I talk to Lindor, guys like that, and they say, ‘Man, when I was young I watched you play.’ It comes full circle, but that’s what makes this game neat. You want to see those guys do well. I love the position. I try to help those guys as much as I can prepare for the long haul of numerous seasons. It’s really what I love doing.”
It’s not just Tulo’s teammates and fellow major leaguers with whom he shares his knowledge. Within the Jays’ minor-league system is a young prospect, shortstop Bo Bichette. He is the son of Rockies legend Dante Bichette, a mentor of Tulowitzki’s as he was breaking in. Bo knows role models.
“I’ve known Bo since he was 10 years old,” Tulo said. “He’d be over at the Rockies facilities hitting on the back field with me. Now he’s in this organization as a top prospect, playing the same position as me. It’s cool. I love it.
“All those infielders coming up, you hear about how this guy’s a prospect, this and that. I’ve never been the guy to sit there and hide knowledge. I want them to have all the knowledge that I have. I’m not scared of it. I’ve seen other guys (say), ‘I’m not going to tell this guy too much, because he’s here to take my job.’ I’m not worried about that. I want to get these guys better.”
Yes, Josh Donaldson is a Jays leader, but he’s uber-emotional. Not everyone can identify. Besides, he’s a Viking.
Russ Martin is a Jays leader, but he has a lot on his plate, trying to navigate a pitching staff safely past Sirens on the Islands of Failure. In addition, there have been many games when he’s departed the clubhouse before the media even enter.
As for Jose Bautista, his leadership is now mostly by example in terms of his professional approach and preparation.
No, Tulo’s the one.
“When I go home at night and when the season’s over, one of the things I’m most proud of is, hey, did I help a lot of my teammates get better?” Tulowitzki said. “That’s not being caught up in myself. It’s wanting to get other guys better.
“I always consider myself a little bit more of an old-school type. I don’t think there’s too many of me around . . . I’m here all the time. I put in long hours, and I keep saying that it’s because I respect this game. I love this game. I want to do it as long as I can, and it means something to me.”
Tulowitzki was shocked when he was traded to the Jays at the deadline in July of 2015. He was angry and confused. Then he was hurt in a collision with Kevin Pillar and didn’t truly feel a part of the 2015 division title. Last spring was his first in Florida and he was getting used to the surroundings. Now he’s completely comfortable, even if he won’t confirm it with a smile. That’s not who he is.
One personal goal Tulo maintains to keep himself motivated — other than the quest for a World Series — is remaining at shortstop for his entire career, something Cal Ripken and Alex Rodriguez were unable to do.
“I’m trying to do something that no one has ever done,” he said. “That’s to be as big as I am (six-foot-three, 205 pounds) and continually playing shortstop at the highest level. It’s fun, and I challenge myself every single day to keep this thing going. It’s something I take pride in, and hopefully for my entire career I’ll be at that position.
“You’re always trying to better yourself. Getting with our great training staff that we have here has been beneficial for me. My body feels great, but bottom line is that playing shortstop is a demanding position, especially as you get older.”
It’s the presence of Tulowitzki and other veteran leaders that allows manager John Gibbons to be successful with his laissez-play style of leadership.
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