DENVER -- Troy Tulowitzki will return to Coors Field on Monday for the first time since the Colorado Rockies traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 27.
Tulowitzki's return will spice up an interleague series between the Rockies and Blue Jays, who last played in 2013 in Toronto and last played at Coors Field in 2010.
"I'm sure it's going to be emotional for him because he played so many years here," Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "He did amazing things for this organization, winning Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, representing the organization in All-Star Games. So that's special; that's something that should be recognized and I'm sure that he's going to feel weird being on the other side.
"But other than that, it's just another game. We're not playing against Tulowitzki. We're playing against the Blue Jays. So we just got to take care of business."
Tulowitzki, 31, was the Rockies' first-round pick and seventh player taken overall in the 2005 draft. He made his major league debut Aug. 30, 2006, and was their starting shortstop from 2007 until he was traded to the Blue Jays with reliever LaTroy Hawkins for shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Jesus Tinoco.
Tulowitzki was a five-time All-Star and won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers with the Rockies. In all or parts of 10 seasons with the Rockies, Tulowitzki hit .299 with a .885 OPS and 188 home runs. In 526 career games at Coors Field, Tulowitzki has a .321 average, .951 OPS and has hit 106 home runs. It will be a huge surprise if Tulowitzki isn't warmly received by the fans.
"I'm not wondering about what the reaction will be like at all," Tulowitzki said. "I think I have a fair guess of what it will be. I think they saw a guy that gave it everything he had when he was out there, so I think it will hopefully be a warm welcome, and they'll show their appreciation for me, and I'll do the same."
Reyes was placed on a paid administrative leave in spring training and later suspended for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence incident. Rookie Trevor Story, 23, has taken over at shortstop and done well. He's hitting .271 with 19 homers, 50 RBIs and a .898 OPS.
"It's going to be cool," Story said. "I have a lot of respect for Tulo. He's been a mentor to me, and I got nothing but good things to say about him. I kind of grew up watching him play. He's a bigger shortstop, so I kind of idolized him a little bit. Yeah, it's going to be cool to play against him."
Story was speaking after Saturday's game. He was hit with a pitch in the ninth inning and suffered a bruised right middle finger, leaving his status for Monday's game uncertain.
Tulowitzki invited Story to work out with him in the offseason in Las Vegas before the 2014 season, an experience that lingers still with Story.
"He's a very intense guy, especially when it comes to baseball," Tulowitzki said. "I really just learned how to prepare and with what intensity to do so. He helped me a lot with that. I use it every day. I'm thankful that he let me come work out with him."
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