Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a quadriceps injury.
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Tulowitzki Out of Saturday’s Lineup
Saturday, May 16
Tulowitzki was not in the team’s lineup for Saturday’s game against the Dodgers, via ROOT SPORTS:
The team’s official Twitter account noted that Tulowitzki left Friday’s contest with “left quadriceps tightness.”
The fact that it was only tightness is encouraging, but Colorado will likely use plenty of caution with its superstar. The Rockies are in last place in the National League West, and the shortstop’s long-term health is more important than a couple of games in May.
Coming into play Friday, Tulowitzki was hitting .284 with two home runs and 11 RBI. While the numbers don’t jump off the page, he is a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner and is the most feared hitter in the Colorado lineup.
It would benefit the Rockies if Tulowitzki came back and returned to normal form quickly, though, to increase his potential trade value. The team is in last place and likely headed toward a rebuild, and trading away its biggest star would net assets in the form of young players and draft picks moving forward.
Tulowitzki recently addressed trade rumors, per Thomas Harding of MLB.com: “Whatever happens on the Rockies’ end happens, but for me to sit here and try to force my way out of here, that’s not the case. I don’t think it’s fair to my teammates and the relationships I’ve built here to take that route.”
Daniel Descalso came in for Tulowitzki Friday and will likely be asked to play some shortstop if Tulowitzki misses extended time.
He certainly doesn’t have the resume of Tulowitzki or inspire much fear in opposing pitching staffs, but he is a solid contact hitter who can at least fill the role until the superstar returns.
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