Toronto Blue Jays: Troy Tulowitzki Suffers Setback
By Tj Porreca
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was working his way back from a quad injury, but in the process of his rehab, the 31 year-old suffered a setback.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been without former all star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki since he was placed on the disabled list on May 28 with a strained right quad. He was taking the necessary steps to get back on a Major League field, but Blue Jays manager John Gibbons announced the Blue Jays shortstop has suffered a setback.
Tulowitzki was playing in an intrasquad game on Friday when something flared up. he was pulled from the game, and Gibbons assessed the situation and Tulowitzki’s status.
“He just didn’t feel right,” Gibbons said, per Sportsnet in Canada. “It’s not like he re-injured it, but [he] just seems a little hesitant or something.”
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
On the surface, the fact that the Blue Jays can confidently say at this stage that he didn’t re-injure himself is reassuring. But a setback is a tough break. At this stage, it’s unknown what it means for his rehab, but the fact that he had to be pulled from an intrasquad game is cause for concern.
Previously, the Blue Jays had Tulowitzki on track to rejoin the team on Monday, when Toronto opens a four-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies. With the setback, though, it would probably behoove the Blue Jays not to push him just yet. Tulowitzki is now 31, and before rushing him back from an injury, Toronto will likely play it safe pertaining to his status on the 25-man roster.
Darwin Barney has been spelling Tulowitzki in his absence. In 41 games this season, Barney is hitting .316/.360/.436. He has started 11 games at shortstop, and has had 50 defensive chances in the field, with no errors — good for a .1000 fielding percentage.
When Tulowitzki was placed on the disabled list, he had this to say, per Sportsnet: “It’s tough, you could rest it and maybe get better in a week or so. But then you’ve got to play with a man down and that’s not the right thing to do.” While he understandably didn’t want to be placed on the disabled list, doing so allowed the Blue Jays to open up an active roster spot.
Next: Yankees failing with first round picks
In 46 games this season, Tulowitzki is hitting .204/.289/.383. A key midseason acquisition for Toronto in 2015, he hasn’t produced in Toronto as he did during his Rockies’ days. In 87 games with Toronto dating back to last season, he is hitting .221/.303/.382, but has suffered multiple injuries. In addition to this quad injury, he suffered a crack in his left shoulder in September, 2015, after an on-field collision. Tulowitzki, a former five-time All Star, certainly has the ability to produce at a high level again for the Toronto Blue Jays, but first he must get healthy and return to the field.