Tulowitzki to undergo season-ending hip surgery

For the better part of three months, it appeared that the real Troy Tulowitzki was going to be able to shine on like some crazy, purple and black diamond, but unfortunately his season is officially drawing to a close.

The Colorado Rockies confirmed today that Tulowitzki, who turns 30 in October, will undergo season-ending hip surgery. In the past three seasons, the Rockies shortstop has played in just 264 games, missing out on 105 games in 2012 and 36 games last season.

This season, Tulowitzki was unstoppable for the first two months of the year. Despite ending May on an 0-for-12 skid, his triple slash on May 31st was .352/.454/.670, with 14 home runs and 37 runs batted in across 53 games. Though he cooled off from June into July to the tune of .324/.403/.518, he was still on pace to set career marks in home runs, runs scored, doubles, walks, and Wins Above Replacement.

It is a testament to how magnificent Tulowitzki performed over his 91 games that his fWAR (5.1) would rank him third behind Mike Trout and Alex Gordon, and will likely keep him in the top 25 of value-based performances this season. He was the leading candidate for the National League MVP, an award that he has been oft-deserving of but has as of yet remained out of reach.

It is a sad end to a great season for an individual in the midst of a rather dreary season for the team he plays for.