Former Dirtbag and Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will make his return to Blair Field and throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Dirtbags host Pepperdine on February 19.

That game is the season opener for both teams, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19. Tulowitzki was last honored by the baseball program in 2009, when he was the keynote speaker at the Leadoff Dinner.

Tulowitzki had his finest season yet as a professional in 2009, finishing in fifth place in the National League MVP voting after leading the Rockies to the playoffs as the NL Wild Card. He hit a career high 32 home runs and became the fifth Rockies player to hit for the cycle.

Tulowitzki first came to national prominence in his rookie season with Colorado, finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting to Ryan Braun. Tulowitzki hit .297 in his first full season in the bigs, and also hit 24 home runs while driving in a career-high 99 RBI.

Drafted seventh overall out of Long Beach State, Tulowitzki was a two-time All-Big West selection and an All-American in 2005. 

Reports From LBSU