April 2: Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi tweets that Tulowitzki’s surgeries were performed today, and the Blue Jays were informed that all went well.
March 30: Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is slated to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs from both of his heels, Toronto GM Ross Atkins tells reporters including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter links). The procedure will occur on Monday, MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm adds on Twitter.
Tulowitzki could be back in eight weeks if all goes swimmingly, meaning we almost certainly won’t see Tulowitzki in a MLB uniform until June. But it’s much more concerning in the broader context of the 33-year-old’s recent injury history.
Hamstring and ankle injuries limited the five-time All-Star to just 66 contests in 2017. That’s just the latest in a long line of problems for Tulowitzki. Since the start of the 2012 season, he has averaged just 98 contests annually.
The other area of concern is just what the Jays can expect out of Tulo even when he is at full strength — or, as close to it as he’ll get at this point. The former star hasn’t produced big value at the plate since 2014. While he turned in roughly average offensive work in the two seasons that followed, he slashed just .249/.300/.378 in his 260 plate appearances last season.
While they await Tulotwitzki’s return, the Jays will presumably rely on recent acquisitions Aledmys Diaz and Gift Ngoepe. That’s not optimal, though perhaps Diaz offers a bit of upside given the quality 2016 campaign he turned in. Yangervis Solarte, who was also picked up over the offseason, is also capable of playing short — though he has done so sparingly in the majors.
This post has been corrected to reflect that the bone spurs being removed are in Tulowitzki’s heels, not his ankles.
In no way surprising. At all.
Did you make this username for this post? It’s too fitting.
Derrick Rose?
BOGO?
Many of my fellow Mets fans were clamoring for this guy before he was traded to Toronto. It looks like, given his fragile state, he would have fit right in.
I’m sure the turf in Toronto doesn’t do him any favors either.
Weve had a full dirt infield since 2017… And the basepaths have always been dirt since i can remember.
The little area around the base was the only part that was dirt
Sad, but true…
Of course, I wouldn’t consider the Jays as a contender, but what’s worse; being injury plagued on a potential contender, or having All-Star production on a bottom dwellar?
I wonder if Toronto will be exercising that 2021 option??:
Wait until opening day to get this done? You’d think he would have noticed bone spurs this bad prior to opening day, unless he spent the entire offseason on the couch.
That’s what I was thinking. Why didn’t he get the bone spurs removed in October? Not like those things developed in spring training
How come they are just finding out about these operable bone spurs now? Hasn’t the guy been out forever? WebMD says these things take a long time to develop. Should the Jays have been on top of this? Couldn’t it be dealt with last year?
This stinks of poor doctoring.
Sportsnet reported on this extensively early in spring training. Your first mistake is believing that all of the information on this matter is contained within this short MLBTR article. Your second mistake is diagnosing a player you have likely never even glimpsed in person using WebMD.
Doctors felt rehab was the best course of action back in August 2017. Obviously they have to go to plan B entering Spring Training.
Ahh Tulo, another injury. Reinforces my opinion that he no longer can play the shortstop position due to age and fragility. He’ll be back at the trade deadline after Smoak and Donaldson have been traded.
“1st base or 3rd base here I come”
Their best SS option is in AA New Hampshire. Bo Bichette.
Why did he wait till the start of the season to have surgery, should of done it, in the off season.
Why does anyone pay this guy. One day into the season. No pain or bone spurs in the off season?
He is the Isaiah Thomas of MLB. Maybe the Jays can trade him to the Lakers.
because you can’t just not pay players with contracts.
Man I used to clamor for the Yankees to trade for Tulo when he was a Rockie. Glad I’m not a GM
Unlikely this all goes “swimmingly” for Tulo. The gods of baseball have turned on this guy. Unfortunate.
Injured and making the buckies… Not exactly flipping burgers 10$ kind of job, huh?
Might as well grab both of them while they’re at it Tulo.
At least now he won’t have to serve in Vietnam.
Well done good sir! MAGA! No collusion. You are a stable genius with that post. Bigly!
Cheap glass is more durable than this guy
I want to know how one gets “bone spurs” in both heels??? Is there a Doctor in the house??
I think bone spurs are caused by other injuries
and are like calcium deposits that build up around the injuries . Goes along with arthritis
and tendinitis . I have them on my spine around the vertabraes .
They can be caused by other injuries or since they are in both heels, possibly lack of heel support in his shoes.
Sheesh imagine what could’ve been for Tulo has he just stayed healthy
Saw him play shortstop at Coors when he was in his prime. Best defensive shortstop I’ve ever seen, bar none.
You haven’t seen very many SS have you?
Ya no kidding……,
Slick SS, solid SS. Best? No. But damn good. No question.
Best SS I’ve ever seen play is Ozzie Smith! Hands down the best defensive anyway!
His splits are RIDICULOUS. He was a Coors creation. The Rockies will NEVER make a better trade then the day they sent his whinny add to Toronto.
Amazed that they didn’t discover the bone spurs earlier. You know, during the enter off season and Spring Training.
If it wasn’t for these bone spurs, Troy Tulowitzki would’ve found another excuse to go on the DL. He is clearly motivated to stay off the field. When the spurs heal, he will find another issue. MLB needs to take some sort of action against this type of contract abuse.
Him and Mark Melancon most def hang out.
The team has doctors who examine the players. The team and its doctors then make the determination to shelve the players. You’re making a serious and unfounded accusation and players don’t place themselves on the DL, Teams also can’t use “phantom injuries” to place players on the DL either – the league has to receive a medical report on why the player is being put on the shelf.
His career is over and he was injured most of it. Let all cry about it. Lol
See you after the all star break MAYBE. We all know he’ll either suffer a setback or another injury entirely during rehab.
Package him with Donaldson at the deadline. Someone will bite
Not likely any intelligent GM will bite on Tulo+Donaldson package unless the Jays eat most of Tulo’s remaining contract. GM’s are smart.
This won’t happen.
Nobody’s taking on Tulo’s sweet contract.
I remember when Bridich traded tulo people here in Denver were mad. But turns out he made a smart move. Getting anything of value for such an injury plagued player would of been good. But being able to get Hoffman, Castro and Tinoco was a great move by Bridich.
Give him robot legs.
Over/under on the number of MLB games in which he appears for the rest of his days: 50.
Due to industrial injuries (faulty scaffolding) both my heels have spurs. Uncomfortable all the time. I can not afford surgery. So I wince on. Everyone has pain. Right? The symptoms did not flare up but over time (walking) developed these spurs. Calsium deposits from irregular rubbing.
Nothing like beating a guy when he’s down. Anyone honestly think the guy gets injured on purpose? I’m guessing he’s been dealing with these spurs for a while and they were hoping he’d be able to play through it with treatment they’re giving him. Obviously now it didn’t work the way they wanted. I feel for the guy because he’s a helluva good ball player who has had bad luck staying healthy.
I get that he’s untradable at this point— but maybe a trade away from Toronto’s turf might do wonders.. Even if it’s not artifical turf anymore, maybe it’s still tough on the body. I read jimmertee suggested a move to 1B or 3B, might prevent wear and tear, honestly makes sense! (Hopefully not First Base 😉 ) Good Luck, Tulo.
My speculation, because he always gets injured—
The bottom line is that Tulo is fragile. He cannot play anything except first and DH. The Jays must plan for this or plan to cut him and eat the contract.His defensive skills at SS are now irrelevant to keeping him on the field once he is healthy.
Except he wouldn’t be useful at DH or 1B. I would rather have Smoak and Morales than him hitting. Except the fact that he is good for playing SS for a handful of games and if he gets injured again be grateful you had him for a handful of games. When he does play he is a fantastic SS. On the other side none of us have played with heel spurs in both feet so we don’t know the impact but I would imagine it would not go well. There is still a very small chance that he could come back after the surgery and be relevant again. Doesn’t make sense to release him and let somebody else find out with your dollar.
The Morales signing did 1 thing; forced Donaldson, Tulo and Bautista to play everyday in 2017. At 32, 33 and 36 respectively, they needed time off the field to DH, and potentially Devon Travis and Steve Pearce. Nobody wants Morales, Tulo’s hurt and Donaldson is having trouble throwing the baseball. A big problem for the team.
Is this guy made of paper?
Paper beats rock! 🙂
This almost seems like the Jays wanted this to happen. Doesn’t make sense to wait as long as they did. Really starting to wonder if he will ever play for the Jays again? Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the just pay him and send him packing.
A career that could have been. 22 to 26 – stud 24 HR/85 RBI/10SB/.295BA to 17 HR/56RBI/2SB/.285 BA since.
Do teams buy insurance to buyout a players’ contract in circumstances like this? Just asking.