Wolters stays on brand on Players' Weekend

ST. LOUIS -- Rockies catcher Tony Wolters spent the pregame on Friday living up to the back of his Players' Weekend jersey: an emoji of a sheet of paper. Wolters’ ever-present stacks of scouting reports have earned him the nickname “Papers.” He’s always prepared, even for an oddity like Players' Weekend.

Although Dom Nunez was starting at catcher against the Cardinals, Wolters was thinking ahead about the potential problem of pitchers being able to see signs against the black uniform pants.

“We’ll probably paint our fingernails,” Wolters said.

Wolters has shone brightly enough defensively that it’s worthwhile to wonder if his mitt will also get a paint job -- as in, the Rawlings Gold Glove. Realistically, guys like his opposite number this weekend, the Cardinals’ Yadier Molina, have the years and cache that Wolters does not. But can he at least break through as one of the three National League finalists?

“If Tony continues on what he’s doing behind the plate, he’ll get that recognition,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “Usually it takes two, three, four years to get people believing that this is the real deal. People who watch the game, people who evaluate it, there is a proving ground period and Tony’s going through it right now.

“I would think what he’s dong this year gets him on the radar for the next coming years.”

Known for the occasional highlight play since he broke in during 2016, Wolters has shown consistency this year, his first as the Rockies’ primary catcher. He entered Friday’s games tied for second in the National League with 16 runners caught stealing, and third in stolen-base percentage, at 68. A throwing error at Arizona on Monday was his first of the season. And he has stolen several outs on daring throws after balls in the dirt and bunts/infield dribblers.

With Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado possessing six Gold Gloves, with former Rockies teammates DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez having earned multiples, and shortstop Trevor Story, who also has never been a finalist, gaining notice, Wolters can’t help but dream.

“I try not to, but I’ve always dreamed about getting one,” Wolters said. “There are a lot of good guys in this league that are really good at their positions.”

For now, Wolters, 27, is learning from those who are where he wants to be -- including Molina.

As a rookie making his first trip to Busch Stadium, Wolters joked -- prior to meeting Molina -- that he was going to use his finger to scribble a note in the dirt behind home plate for Molina. He didn’t do that, but didn’t need to, as Molina has welcomed him into a fraternity of guys always seeking information.

Whether it’s something as obvious as the pitcher-catcher relationship, or something as inside-the-club as the catcher-umpire relationship, these guys talk and appreciate one another.

“You have such a tight bond -- no one else knows how catching is, mentally and physically -- so when catchers come up, all of us talk to each other,” Wolters said. “Yadi is really cool. He has worked really hard and is a really good catcher.

“I’ve watched him and I love his catching, and talking to him and being able to say hi to him is something I’m going to remember for a long time. I definitely ask him questions. It’s nice being able pick his brain a little bit.”

Surgical updates
• Righty Jon Gray had two screws placed in his left foot during surgery to correct a stress fracture in Denver on Friday.

• Black said closer Scott Oberg, who had a blood clot dissolved in Denver last week, underwent vascular surgery performed by Dr. Robert Thompson in St. Louis on Friday.

• Right-hander Seunghwan Oh, released on July 26, underwent right elbow surgery in Korea, according to Black, who remains in contact.

Senzatela expected back
The Rockies have not made an announcement, but they are expected to recall righty Antonio Senzatela (8-7, 6.29 ERA in 18 Major League starts) from Triple-A Albuquerque to start Sunday’s finale against the Cardinals. Senzatela has been working on secondary pitches -- especially his changeup -- and delivery corrections since being sent down last month.