SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There’s a slight resemblance. The size. The power. The makeup. Both shortstops.
But the likeness ends there.
He’s heard the comparisons all spring to former Colorado Rockies All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. And while humbled, shortstop Trevor Story is not worried about playing in the shadows of Tulowitzki, a five-time All-Star and 10-year Rockie who was traded to Toronto last July.
“I have confidence in myself,” said Story. “This is something I’ve always dreamed of.”
His teammates and front office heard the comparisons, too. But anyone you talk to in the organization will say the same thing: Story doesn’t have to be like Tulowitzki, only himself.
“He doesn’t have to fill any shoes,” said right fielder Carlos Gonzalez. “Tulo was a great player. He just needs to be himself. I was traded for Matt Holliday. He was a star player in this organization. I didn’t try to be him. I was just trying to be myself. Everybody starts like that.”
And Story's saga starts right away. Rockies manager Walt Weiss on Tuesday named Story his opening-day starter at shortstop, as Story took advantage of the opening provided when incumbent Jose Reyes was placed on paid leave pending resolution of his domestic violence case.
The opportunity could last weeks, perhaps months if Story thrives and Major League Baseball imposes a significant suspension on Reyes.
Of course, if Story even approaches the level of play in his month of Cactus League games once the lights come on, there's no telling how long he might hold down the job.
He batted .354, tying Nolan Arenado with a team-high six home runs, 13 RBI and a 1.280 OPS, decent numbers even in the Cactus League's offensive environment.
"He came ready to play and was on a mission this spring,” said Gonzalez. “He understood the opportunity he had in front him and took advantage of it.”
Not since Clint Barmes in 2006 has anyone not named Tulowitzki started on opening day. Story, 23, and Tulowitzki played in the same organization for nearly three years. Story embraced the time he had with Tulowitzki and looked up to him, but stayed true to himself.
“I try to be myself out there,” he said. “But being with (Tulo) for three years and working out with him in the offseason has rubbed off. I grew up watching him.”
Says Zach Wilson, the Rockies' senior director of player development: "Trevor Story, in his own way, is going to be a very good shortstop for the Colorado Rockies.”
Story, the Rockies’ 11th ranked prospect, has the potential to be a five tool player. For his size, he's an excellent runner, has power and a plus arm. Wilson said many people discounted his defense at the start of spring, but now are no longer questioning his skills.
“What you are seeing this spring is the type of player that he could be,” said Wilson. “He can put a jolt into a baseball. When you put it into his wheelhouse he’s going to get into some balls. … He has some tremendous speed, some of the best in the organization.”
In 2011, when Story was 18, he was ranked the 40th-best prospect by Baseball America and the fourth-best shortstop available in the draft, and the Rockies selected him with the 45th overall pick.
His major breakthrough came last season, when he hit 20 home runs - and posted a .350 on-base percentage - in 130 games split almost evenly between Class AA and AAA.
“Like any young player you expect some ups and downs in the development process,” says Wilson. “He certainly had that. But he stayed focused and continued to work and all of that helped him to get the point of where he is now.”
DJ LeMahieu, the Rockies' All-Star second baseman, said Story was undaunted by his first major league camp.
“He’s confident and focused,” said LeMahieu. “He knows what he wants. He carries himself different than a normal guy who’s in the big leagues for the first time."
Story has dreamed of playing in the majors like every other little kid. In high school, he was an overall athlete who also excelled at basketball and football. On the baseball team, he pitched, but played shortstop because he “fell in love with hitting” and wanted to play every day.
That dream is nearly complete. The Rockies open the 2016 regular season on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix.
“Players dream of this day,” he said. “It’s a dream come true. But that won’t last for long. It will be time to play, time to compete after that.”
