SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies shortstop prospect Trevor Story prepared for his big opportunity by getting bigger.
Story, 23, a supplemental first-round choice in 2011 (45th overall), played last year at Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Albuquerque (.279/.350/.514, 20 HR, 80 RBIs in 130 combined games). Having trained earlier in his career with former Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki -- a big man in what used to be a little man's position -- Story decided this winter to muscle up to around 213 pounds. That's eight pounds heavier than last year's Major League camp.
"I don't worry about being too big -- 'Tulo' is kind of the inspiration for that," the right-handed-hitting, 6-foot-1 Story said. "If it comes to a point where I'm too heavy and it affects my movements, we can do a thinner program. But I feel as heavy as I've ever been but I'm as quick as I've ever been, right now. It's the best of both worlds."
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Story hopes to claim the shortstop position that is unstable because Jose Reyes, who came from the Blue Jays in a trade involving Tulowitzki last season, is facing a possible suspension from MLB for an offseason domestic violence case. Competition for the job begins when position players start Spring Training on Friday.
Story, the No. 11 prospect in the Rockies' chain at the end of last season, according to MLB.com, has received much of the media buzz because of his first-round status. Manager Walt Weiss and general manager Jeff Bridich each said if Story proves worthy of an Opening Day job, the Rockies will not send him back to Albuquerque simply to avoid starting his service-time clock toward arbitration.

But that's a long way from handing him the job.
The Rockies' No. 20 prospect, switch-hitting Cristhian Adames, 24, hit .311 and earned 26 Major League games (.245/.298/.302) last season. Also, two utility types from last year's team -- left-handed-hitting veteran Daniel Descalso (.205/.283/.324 in 101 games) and switch-hitting third-year man Rafael Ynoa (.260/.277/.339) have histories at short and will be given the chance to show they can stick in one place.
Story has had some thoughtful preparation. He played third extensively last Spring Training and made five starts for New Britain there, and he made 12 starts each at New Britain and Albuquerque at second. The moves were in part because the Rockies wanted to be prepared if Tulowitzki was to still be with the club.
This spring will be a first for Story, who was a star from youth through Irving (Texas) High School and was assured of chances through the Minors because of his Draft status.
"It's definitely different," Story said. "Coming up, you kind of know where you're going to be. Here, it seems like an open competition. That's all you can ask for as a competitor, a chance to be where you really want to be.
"I'm going to try to take full advantage of it. If it works out, it does. If not, I'll work on what I need to work on to get here."