Troy Tulowitzki

2013

Subscribe now to see our 2013 outlook.

2012

Other than a few bumps and bruises in the second half, Tulowitzki managed to stay healthy last season and reach the 30-homer mark for the second time in his career. Perhaps the minor ailments are the reason behind his declining stolen-base totals, but his success rate has improved with his selectivity on the basepaths over the last two seasons anyway. The hip bursitis that ultimately shut him down in September is worth monitoring, but Tulowitzki was able to resume workouts in mid-October and should be fine when spring training begins. As plate discipline goes, a slight uptick in his walk and contact rates were the only change and all signs here point to another season of elite production from the consensus top shortstop on the board.

2011

Tulowitzki's 2010 season proved once again, it's not how you start, but how you finish. He started the season with nine homers, 34 RBI and a .306/.375/.502 batting line, before a broken wrist sidelined him for 40 games in mid-June. In September, he went gangbusters on NL pitchers with 15 homers, 40 RBI and a .322/.376/.800 batting line. It truly was a September to remember for the MVP-caliber shortstop. In the offseason, the Rockies signed him to a seven-year extension that runs through the 2020 season. He still has trouble staying healthy, and the 20 steals he posted in 2009 probably won't resurface again, but how many other shortstops offer as many skills (power, speed, batting average, defense) as he does?

2010

Two months into the season, Tulowitzki had just dug himself out of the Mendoza line, and sported just five homers and four stolen bases. After that, something clicked for Tulo, as he hit .325 with 27 homers and an OPS of 1.018 with considerations for the league MVP award. As an elite shortstop in an era with precious few elite fantasy options at the position, he won't be able to fly under the radar on draft day this time around as he did last season. Even if he slides back into the 20-25 home-run range with fewer steals, Tulowitzki is still a top-tier shortstop worth targeting.

2009

Injuries -- a torn quad and a self-inflicted owie to his right palm -- decimated his sophomore season. His second half, however, was encouraging, and points to a breakout 2009, especially in power. Tulowitzki improved his contact rate, walk rate and K/BB, signs of a player learning his craft. Look for a repeat of his rookie year, maybe with some extra pop. All that's missing is steals.

2008

Tulowitzki put together a monster rookie season in 2007. He broke the National League record for rookie shortstops in home runs (24) and RBI (99). He also led all shortstops in total chances, putouts, assists, double plays, fielding percentage and range factor. Tulowitzki improved as the season went along and at 23 years old, the best is yet to come. He struggled early in the season but was able to adjust and limit his strikeouts as the season went along. He will bat second in the lineup this year, which should improve his runs total, but may limit his RBI opportunities a bit.

2007

Tulowitzki, the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the big leagues. After just 126 minor league games, he made his major league debut in August. Though he batted just .240/.318/.292 in 96 at-bats for the Rockies, Tulowitzki redeemed himself in the Arizona Fall League, batting .329/.398/.468. He has excellent plate discipline and developing power. Barring an awful spring, he's expected to open 2007 as the Rockies' starting shortstop.

2006

Tulowitzki, the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft, played 22 games at Single-A Modesto hitting .266/.343/.457 before tearing his quadriceps. A five-tool talent, he's more developed than fellow shortstop prospect Chris Nelson, but still needs another year or two in the minors, starting with a season in Double-A in 2006.