How Good Is Ezequiel Tovar?

Ezequiel Tovar probably isn’t going to the All-Star Game this year — the shortstop category is just too stacked, and the NL position probably belongs to Mookie Betts anyway. But it’s worth taking a look at the season Tovar is having because it’s very good.

I have been thinking about this since reading Michael Baumann’s article “The Rockies’ Defensive Standouts Are Showing Signs of Offensive Life.” In it, Baumann shows how both Brenton Doyle and Tovar have improved their offensive games this season. Tovar, he writes, is still striking out too much, but the change has come in his ability to pull the ball after he makes contact.

It’s a change reflected in his 2024 stats.

Let’s leave 2022 out of it because those numbers are pretty much just noise, but contrast Tovar’s 2023 with his 2024 so far.

He’s already accumulated 2.3 fWAR, and his offensive numbers have improved in almost every category, including his slashline and wRC+. Unfortunately, Tovar continues to chase too much — even more this year — and he’s walking less. But he’s making up for that with the effective contact he’s making. Moreover, it seems almost certain Tovar will surpass his 2023 home run total this season.

As an added bonus, Tovar is also stealing more bases — not a lot more because that’s just not his game, but he’s on track to eclipse last year’s total.

Defensively, he’s already accumulated 7 DRS compared to 2023’s 13, so he will probably surpass that number as well. Add to that 6 OAA (16 in 2023) and 4 FRV (12 in 2024). In short, Tovar’s defensive game is as sharp as it was last year when he was a Gold Glove finalist.

How Does He Compare to His Teammates?

Currently, Tovar leads his team in fWAR. (Ryan McMahon is second with 1.5 fWAR while Brenton Doyle has 1.2 fWAR, so it’s not especially close.)

His 11 home runs are second only to McMahon’s 12 — and Tovar’s two-home-run game in St. Louis shows his developing power.

Tovar has the highest wRC+ among Rockies with a minimum of 200 plate appearances, and his four stolen bases rank hims third on the team.

Last year was all about Nolan Jones; this year, so far, is about Ezequiel Tovar.

How Does He Compare to Other Shortstops?

This is a pretty stacked position, so Tovar’s competition is stiff.

Among all shortstops, Tovar’s 2.3 fWAR ties him for seventh in MLB. That moves to fourth among NL shortstops. Tovar trails Mookie Betts (4.5 fWAR), Willy Adames (2.7 fWAR), and Elly De La Cruz (2.6 fWAR). He’s tied with Francisco Lindor.

Tovar is hanging with some fine company there. He’s tied with three other shortstops for most home runs and has the second-highest SLG. (Mookie Betts is first.)

Defensively, he’s tied with Orlando Arcia for the most DRS (7), and his OAA tie him for second.

In other words, Tovar‘s defensive game remains elite.

This is probably not the year that Ezequiel Tovar becomes an All-Star, but he’s clearly on the right track.

What I’m Reading

• Kenneth Weber’s “2024 Looks Like the Best Catching Season in Team History . . . But It Shouldn’t Last” (Purple Row) — This year’s catching corps is very good — and Weber argues one or both should be traded.

• Patrick Saunders’ “Rockies' Adael Amador a Big Hit in His Major League Debut” (Denver Post) — Amador’s promotion is one of the most exciting turns in the Rockies’ season. How he adjusts to MLB pitching is a story to watch.

Closing Thoughts

Apologies for the short newsletter today — it‘s been a busy week.

The good news is that the Rockies are back in LoDo for a long home stand.

Enjoy!

Thanks for reading —

Renee

Rockies Pitch is a newsletter that focuses on Colorado Rockies baseball and tries to tell the stories no one else is.