Ezequiel Tovar Explained

Ezequiel Tovar
Team:Colorado Rockies
Number:14
Position:Shortstop
Birth Date:1 August 2001
Birth Place:Maracay, Venezuela
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 23
Debutyear:2022
Debutteam:Colorado Rockies
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:August 8, 2024
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.264
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:35
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:128
Teams:

Ezequiel Jesús Tovar (born August 1, 2001) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Career

Minor leagues

Tovar signed with the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent on August 1, 2017.[1]

Tovar made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Rockies, batting .262 with 11 RBIs over 35 games. In 2019, he split time between the rookie–level Grand Junction Rockies and the Low–A Boise Hawks with whom he slashed .253/.318/.322 with two home runs, 16 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases over 73 games. He did not play game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Tovar spent the 2021 season with the Single–A Fresno Grizzlies and High–A Spokane Indians, slashing .287/.322/.475 with 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, thirty doubles, and 24 stolen bases.[3] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[4] He was selected to the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.[5]

Tovar began the 2022 season with the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats, playing in 66 games and hitting .318/.386/.546 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. He was promoted to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes on September 15, 2022.[6]

Major leagues

After five games with Albuquerque, the Rockies promoted Tovar to the major leagues.[7] He made his major league debut on September 23, notching his first career hit off of Sean Manaea of the San Diego Padres.[8] On October 5, the final day of the season, Tovar hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.[9]

On March 26, 2024, Tovar signed a seven-year, $63.5 million contract extension with the Rockies including an eighth year club option that could increase the total value to $84 million.[10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ezequiel Tovar Shows Resilience. Jack. Etkin. www.baseballamerica.com. August 31, 2021 .
  2. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled. June 20, 2023. mlb.com. en.
  3. Web site: Rockies 'have a good one coming' in Tovar. MLB.com.
  4. Web site: Rockies 'have a good one coming' in Tovar. MLB.com.
  5. Web site: Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar: Joins 40-man roster . November 19, 2021 .
  6. Web site: Touted Rox prospect Tovar promoted to Triple-A, when will he hit the bigs?. June 20, 2023. denversports.com. September 16, 2022 . en.
  7. Web site: It's Tovar Time: Colorado Rockies to call up prospect Ezequiel Tovar. June 21, 2023. roxpile.com. September 21, 2022 . en.
  8. Web site: Tovar tallies 2 quick hits, makes history in MLB debut . .
  9. Web site: In Rox final game, Tovar hits 1st MLB HR -- off a legendary ace. June 28, 2023. mlb.com. en.
  10. News: Rockies, SS Ezequiel Tovar agree to 7-year, $63.5M extension . March 27, 2024 . ESPN.com . March 26, 2024.
  11. News: Harding . Thomas . 'This is my family:' With 7-year deal, Rox ready to build around Tovar . March 27, 2024 . MLB.com . March 26, 2024.