Rockies Sign Ezequiel Tovar to Seven-Year, $63.5-Million Contract Extension
Fresh off their first 100-loss season in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies have made a long-term commitment to one of their cornerstone pieces on the left side of the infield.
The organization has reportedly inked shortstop Ezequiel Tovar to a seven-year extension worth $63.5 million, as El ExtraBase reported Sunday. It includes an eighth-year club option in 2031 that, if exercised, would increase the deal’s value to $84 million.
Tovar’s new contract will become official once he passes his physical.
The 22-year-old infielder, who was previously under club control through 2028 and has now extended his tenure a few seasons beyond that, made his MLB debut in September 2022, becoming the youngest player in franchise history to do so at 21 years and 53 days. He was also the youngest player in club history to start on Opening Day last season.
Colorado’s everyday shortstop has logged 162 career games in the majors, slashing .251/.285/.404 with 16 home runs and 75 RBIs, accounting for 1.5 fWAR. He posted 37 doubles last year, tying Hall of Fame slugger Todd Helton for the most by a rookie in Rockies history.
In 2022, Tovar hit just .212 over nine games in his first taste of the big leagues, recording more strikeouts (nine) than hits (seven) in 35 plate appearances. Those struggles carried over into ‘23, with the right-handed hitter faltering out of the gate before finding his footing in May.
Beginning an impressive two-month stretch, the native of Venezuela hit eight home runs while driving in 31 runs and producing a .295/.322/.505 clip across 51 contests through the end of June. He also earned a 105 wRC+, positioning him 5% above league average.
Prior to the All-Star break, Tovar’s woes returned and continued the rest of the way, finishing with a measly .238/.273/.377 slash line and 58 wRC+ over his final 76 games. Plate discipline, or a lack thereof, saw him conclude his rookie campaign with concerning walk (4%) and strikeout percentages (27.4%).
Despite his offensive struggles, the former top prospect excelled defensively at short, ranking in the 99th percentile of the majors with +16 Outs Above Average. That tied him for second with Milwaukee’s Willy Adames, trailing only Chicago’s Dansby Swanson (+20).
Tovar also registered +13 Defensive Runs Saved, good for fourth-most among big-league shortstops. He was named a National League Gold Glove finalist for his remarkable performance as a rookie.
The Rockies seem to be betting on Tovar’s elite-level defence continuing throughout the prime years of his career. But they’re also hoping he can unlock more of his untapped potential at the plate with an improved approach that helps reduce his swing-and-miss total.
In the field is where the glove-first righty will make his biggest impact, though. With a 2022 Gold Glove winner in Brendan Rodgers to his left at second base and a three-time finalist in Ryan McMahon to his right at third, Colorado’s infield defence should be among the best in baseball this season.
Still, in a jam-packed NL West Division that’ll run through the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Rockies will likely still have immense trouble avoiding a third consecutive last-place finish.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Jenniferlinneaphotography. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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