Ezequiel Tovar came into the season ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Colorado Rockies system. Despite being just 20 years old, he might finish it in the big leagues. In 229 plate appearances with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, Tovar is slashing .317/.393/.579 with a 165 wRC+. Moreover, he has a dozen home runs and has swiped 16 bases in 17 attempts.
His calling card is his glove. Described by our own Eric Longenhagen as “a no-doubt shortstop with balletic defensive footwork and a well-calibrated internal clock.” Tovar had received similar rave reviews from MLB scouts in the Arizona Fall League. And that was before he blossomed with the bat.
I asked Yard Goats manager Chris Denorfia about the offensive strides that have elevated Tovar’s profile.
“Coming into this year, I was told that there was some chase on down-and-away sliders,” said Denorfia, who played 10 big-league seasons. “But I haven’t seen what everybody was talking about. Somewhere between the Fall League and this spring, he’s made this developmental jump. Something clicked to where he’s recognizing situations where pitchers are going to try to get him to chase. Whether you call it slowing the game down, or just having enough reps, he’s made that adjustment. It was probably the one thing that was holding him back, which is kind of weird to say, because he was only 19 last year.”
The discipline is reflected in the numbers. Despite being one the youngest players in his league, Tovar possesses a 9.6 walk-rate and a 22.3% K-rate. When you add his improved pop to the equation, it’s easy to see why speculation of a call-up — premature that it may be — has begun to grow legs.
Emma Tiedemann replied in the affirmative when asked if Tovar is the best player she’s seen this year. Hartford had played nine games against their Eastern League rival when I posed that question, so the Portland Sea Dogs broadcaster was well-acquainted with what he brings to the table.
“Tovar makes every play look easy,” Tiedemann told me on Friday. “If it’s a play behind the second-base bag, the way he seems to be able to slow things down and still make the hard-and-accurate throw to first base is incredible. At the plate, he can hit for power, hit to the gaps, and he can also get on base with a bunt single. Then he’s a threat to steal. So, I’d say he’s been the player who sticks out the most. The way he’s polished, especially for his age, and just his overall composure, he’s really, really impressive.”
Denorfia’s synopsis is similar to the broadcaster’s.
“He affects games,” said Denorfia. “That’s whether he’s on the bases, playing defense, or in the box. For a 20-year-old kid, in this league, against this competition, to show the maturity level that he does… I don’t think I ever played with a shortstop coming up through the minor leagues that was as talented on both sides of the ball as he is. He’s a very special player.”
A scouting director for an MLB team that could be looking to move veterans for prospects at the trade deadline is on hand for the about-to-conclude Sea Dogs-Yard Goats series. And for good reason. As he put it, “There are a lot of talented players on these teams.” Tovar, with whom the Rockies would be remiss to part ways with, could very well be the best of them.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Francisco Lindor is 18 for 36 against Jakob Junis.
Todd Dunwoody went 5 for 11 against Jeff Juden.
Mike Piazza went 3 for 4 against Mike Judd.
Taylor Douthit went 3 for 4 against June Greene.
Frank Jude went 3 for 16 against Vive Lindaman.
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Ceddanne Rafaela is the fastest-rising prospect in the Boston Red Sox system. Under the radar to start the year, the 21-year-old shortstop/centerfielder was promoted to Double-A Portland earlier this week after tearing up the High-A South Atlantic League to the tune of a .330/.368/.594 slash line, with nine home runs in 209 plate…
Read More: Sunday Notes: Chris Denorfia and Emma Tiedemann are Bullish on Ezequiel Tovar