Everything about Troy Tulowitzki spelled ‘legend’ in the majors. The only part of the equation that let him down was his body.

After over 12 injury-riddled years, Tulowitzki announced Thursday that his playing career was over, including a message through the Yankees on Twitter:

“I will always look back with tremendous gratitude for having the privilege of playing as long as I did,” Tulowitzki wrote in the message. “There is no way to truly express my gratitude to the fans of Colorado, Toronto and New York. They always made my family and I feel so welcome.”

For the bulk of his career, Tulowitzki was a Colorado Rockies’ star.

In nine-plus years with the big league club, the shortstop hit .299 and launched 188 home runs. Along with the numbers, Tulowitzki won two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers and finished top-10 in MVP voting three separate times.

He also holds the Rockies’ best season in defensive WAR of all time (3.9).

The one thing that always stood in his way were injuries.

Tulowitzki, throughout his career, only played 150-or-more games in a season twice. Conversely, he appeared in 100-or-fewer games in three respective years if you take out his rookie stint.

The injuries were always ones that hung around. Hamstring, ankle, quad and other various muscle injuries were the culprits.

As part of the famed ‘Rocktober’ club in 2007, Tulowitzki experienced the highest point in Rockies’ franchise history. Among his personal moments of greatness, he hit for the cycle, nailed 14 home runs in 15 days one year and even created his own iteration of the Derek Jeter jump throw.

Serving as his idol, Jeter was a key reason for Tulowitzki’s desire to eventually end up in New York.

A blockbuster trade in 2015 sent him to the Toronto Blue Jays for current Rockies’ Jeff Hoffman, Jesus Tinoco and the departed Jose Reyes, among others. After battling through injuries for multiple years across the border, Tulowitzki finally made his way to the Yankees.

Before the 2019 season, Tulowitzki signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Unfortunately, a calf injury spoiled the shortstop’s year before it even began, eventually forcing his aforementioned retirement.

Now, Tulowitzki will go on to the University of Texas to join their coaching staff as an assistant. His former Rockies’ teammate, Matt Holliday, also recently joined the Big 12 as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State.

For Rockies’ fans, the memories will always be cherished, especially his return home to a standing ovation: