Be Ready So You Don't Have to Get Ready
Tyler Tolbert's speed stands out on a baseball field, and so does his smile. What's easy to miss is the stopwatch constantly in his hand in the locker room and dugout.
Tyler Tolbert timing the pitcher’s move with a stopwatch in his right hand.
He spends games locked in to the opposing pitcher, timing the moves and preparing for an opportunity that could come at any moment. The Royals use him as a pinch runner and defensive replacement who can play all three outfield spots, second base, shortstop, third base and even emergency pitcher. Occasionally, this means giving Bobby Witt Jr., the best shortstop in the world, a break when he needs one. Tolbert might be called on to win a game with his legs, play an inning of defense or step to the plate. He also knows he might not play at all.
Tolbert was drafted in the 13th round in 2019 out of college, signing for $125,000. That same year, Bobby Witt Jr. went second overall out of high school for close to $8 million. Two paths to the same clubhouse, but a superstar in Witt who recognizes the value of Tolbert. Witt calls him "a special player" and says he picks up tips from Tolbert all the time that have made him a better base runner.
Last season as a rookie, Tolbert appeared in 64 games and averaged less than one plate appearance per game. This year, injuries opened the door to more playing time.
On Monday at Kauffman Stadium, Witt served as designated hitter, a chance to take a half day off his knee after missing nearly a week earlier in the month, which meant Tolbert started at shortstop. He collected five hits, a career high that topped his previous best of three, and the next night against the Mets in New York, starting in right field, he did it again.
Dating back to a game on Saturday, when he had two singles and two stolen bases, Tolbert recorded a hit in 12 consecutive plate appearances, something no major leaguer had done since 1952. He also became the first player with back-to-back five-hit games since Roberto Clemente in 1970.
When Tolbert finally made an out in his last at-bat Tuesday night, his teammates cheered anyway, not for the out itself, but for the history they'd just witnessed.
Tolbert was my star of the game guest on back-to-back nights, and he remained as humble as always. "All I could do was smile and be grateful for the opportunity," he told me.
Asked about the exuberant reaction from his teammates, he replied, "Those are my guys. I got their back, and they got my back."
Royals players celebrate Tolbert’s 12th straight hit.
Role players don't always get the headlines, and they rarely know when their next opportunity is coming. Tolbert told me the lesson came from his parents: always be ready, so you don't have to get ready.
He began the month batting .200. He's now sitting at .370, in roughly half as many games as his rookie season but already more plate appearances than that whole year produced.
The Royals asked more of him, and he was ready. That's the part we can control, whether the opportunity arrives today or a month from now: the work we put in while we wait.
That's Small Ball.
Are you waiting for your opportunity, or preparing for it?