BSN Exclusive: The end and beginning of a new chapter for Tulowitzki

DENVER – On Thursday July 25, Troy Tulowitzki officially announced his retirement from baseball after 13 years in the majors with Colorado, Toronto and New York.

“For me to decide it was time, I talked to people I was close to about my decision and everyone seemed to agree. I gave it everything I got and my body was kind of going south on me,” he said of the decision.

“(Family and friends) were tired of seeing me as frustrated as I was there late in my career and wanted me to be happy and what makes me happy is being out on that baseball field helping people.” Tulo continued, “What better way to do that than coaching.”

With his playing days in the past, Tulowitzki has signed on as a volunteer assistant baseball coach with the University of Texas.

“I love college baseball and what its about,” the 34-year-old shared on a conference call Monday. “I had a great experience at Long Beach State and always kept that in the back of my mind that when I was done playing, I’d like to get back into the college game. When I thought it was a reality, I started doing my homework. Everything led me to Texas.”

As to whether or not taking a non-salary position would be a problem for a player who will have made over $160MM during his career, Tulowtizki said, “I made my money playing this game. I’m not in it for that. I’m in it for these kids. To share my experiences, to sit there and make them better people.”

Former Rockies teammate Nolan Arenado spoke about Tulo being a mentor and coach – oftentimes, a tough one – during his days as a young player from 2013-15. Ultimately, it was an intense work ethic that was passed along from the veteran shortstop. 

“Me, Charlie, DJ were the last few that really took his influence,” Arenado said of Tulowitzki. “I think we’re the only guys that really know him. We really appreciate what he did for us. He showed us the way. Obviously, we’ve implemented our way, but he showed us how to work and become really good. That’s something we’ll all really appreciate.”

Long before last week’s announcement, the five-time All-Star had an idea years ago that he’d be a baseball lifer with a job as a coach or manager someday.

“I felt early on in my career I was coaching, to be honest. I always took pride in it. I think, if you look back, even with the Rockies, I’d have players in the offseason come out with me at my house and work out with me. The bottom line, I was trying to coach them to be a better team. Early on I knew I liked teaching this game. I liked getting guys to feel their full potential and maximizing their potential. I knew from a young age that it was in me,” he’d say.

Fellow Dirtbag Garrett Hampson experienced Tulo’s love of the game years ago as a teenager at Long Beach State University. “He spent a lot of time there,” Hampson said of his interactions with the 2005 1st round selection. “He’d come back and do ground balls with us. Really passionate. He wanted to give back to us, which was really cool.”

For a player with his pedigree, finishing with the 12th most home runs for a shortstop all-time, not to mention two Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers each, it can be a challenge for some to pass along one’s knowledge and experience when being so skilled throughout a career. However, it was never that easy for the career .290 hitter.

“I don’t consider myself a natural. I didn’t get drafted out of high school. I had to basically beg Long Beach State to take me… While I was there, I feel like I turned myself into a good player. Honestly, everything I did was through hard work. I taught myself how to be better. A lot of things I can do on a baseball field aren’t natural. It’s things I taught myself out of hard work. I want to share those experiences with the kids,” adding, “If you were to line up our careers, (the University of Texas players are) probably more talented that I was.”

Bud Black, who watched Tulowitzki’s career from the other side of the diamond as a manager with San Diego, said of the all-around talent, “A truly complete player who could really do it all. There wasn’t one thing he couldn’t do on the baseball field. He could make every play defensively at a premium position. He had a tremendous arm. Offensively, he had power, he hit for average. He hit all pitches. He was one of the best players in the game for a number of years.”

Before anyone has the last word on Tulowitzki’s career, he has one more thing to share in what is ultimately his final post-game interview.

“There’s a lot of memories I have with the Rockies. I got a lot of attention for the unassisted triple play. I’ll always say that was one of the easier plays in my career. More than anything, before I got there, they didn’t win many games. I felt like my time there we had multiple appearances. I would like to think I help played a big roll in creating a winning culture there.”

With playoff appearances in two of the last three full-seasons for Colorado since Tulowitzki’s departure, its fair to say his legacy in the form of players like Arenado and Blackmon continues in Denver. There’s a great chance he helps create similar success for future big leaguers down in Austin.