Yankees' shortstop Troy Tulowitzki retires from playing career
New York Yankees shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (12) follows the flight of his solo homer to right during the ninth inning of the game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, March 30, 2019 Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan/Joseph D. Sullivan
BOSTON – Troy Tulowitzki, brought aboard in the offseason, officially announced his retirement Thursday, calling it a career at the age of 34.
The shortstop was signed as insurance because Didi Gregorius was to start the season on the injured list and actually broke camp with the club but, the case much of the final stage of his career, could not stay healthy. Tulowitzki played in just five games with the Yankees – his last one April 3 – landing on the IL a day later with a left calf strain that never fully healed.
“I want to thank the Yankees organization and Brian Cashman for giving me the opportunity to wear the Yankees uniform and live out another childhood dream,” he said. “I wish that my health had allowed for a different ending to that chapter.”
Gardner goes on injured list
Brett Gardner’s left knee gradually improved throughout the week but not enough to keep the veteran off the injured list.
On Thursday the Yankees placed Gardner there with inflammation in the knee, which has kept him sidelined since Sunday, before the start their four-game series against the Red Sox. Gardner traced the injury back to a sliding catch he made Saturday against the Rockies.
Lefthander Stephen Tarpley was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as a corresponding roster move.
“Felt like we needed the coverage tonight, as much as we used the ‘pen this past week,” Aaron Boone said of the Twins series in which much of the pitching staff took a beating. “Just felt like for tonight it was better to have another arm in here.”
That left the Yankees with three outfielders on the active roster and Boone indicated that Gio Urshela would be the emergency outfielder if need be. And though the third baseman was taking balls in leftfield before Thursday night’s game, it’s likely another move will be made Friday or Saturday to bring another outfielder
Cameron Maybin started a rehab assignment with Scranton earlier in the week and is an option to be recalled, though the Yankees could want him to get another 2-3 games under his belt.
“I would say he’s really close and potentially an option pretty soon here,” Boone said.
Boone said Clint Frazier, who has for the most part hit in the big leagues when given a chance but who struggled tremendously in the outfield this season to the point of becoming a liability there, would be “a consideration” as well.
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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