Rockies’ 20-year-old shortstop prospect Ezequiel Tovar may not be with Yard Goats for long
When the Colorado Rockies were finally able to assign Ezequiel Tovar to his minor-league team for 2022, they sent him to a place where they knew he would find comfortable surroundings.
“I was told there are a lot of Spanish-speaking people here in Hartford,” Tovar said through an interpreter. “And that makes me feel more comfortable. I’m more comfortable because of that.”
It’s one of the reasons the Rockies, despite the distance from Denver, like to keep Hartford as their Double A affiliate, and putting Tovar, 20, from Maracay, Venezuela, in a place where he can relax and unleash his talents is a high priority for the organization. With Trevor Story gone to the Red Sox as a free agent, they signed veteran Josè Iglesius to a one-year contract to hold down the shortstop position until Tovar is ready.
Tovar’s performance in spring training indicated he could be in the majors before reaching legal drinking age in August. In 20 at-bats in big-league games he had 11 hits, two doubles and three homers, and two stolen bases. He was presented the Abby Greer Award as the top prospect in Rockies’ camp.
“I was very comfortable in spring training,” Tovar said. “I was kind of nervous at the beginning because it was my first time with the big-league team, but then I got used to it.”
Since manager Chris Denorfia got Tovar on his Yard Goats roster, he has watched and continually reminded himself the player is only 20. Tovar, 6 feet and about 160 pounds, is considered far advanced as a defender, but needs more discipline at the plate.
“He’s a special player,” Denorfia said. “For as young as he is, to be as talented and as polished, it’s pretty impressive. He got a great opportunity this spring to showcase his talent for the big-league staff and he took advantage of it. He had a fantastic spring, I was almost worried that I wasn’t going to get him here.”
Tovar grew up with a bat, ball and glove in his hand, playing Little League in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, with the Mets’ Francisco Lindor as his idol. He signed with the Rockies just after turning 16 on Aug. 1, 2017. He’s played 212 minor-league games, opening eyes last season when he hit .287 with 15 homers and 72 RBI in Class A.
“I first met him in spring training and he was super young, like 17,” said Coco Montes, who is returning for a second season with the Goats. “It’s been awesome to see him develop into the player that he is today. He is only getting better. He’s one of the best defensive shortstops I’ve ever seen.”
Yonathan Daza, a former Yard Goat outfielder who is also from Maracay, helped Tovar settle down and settle in at camp in Arizona. Daza made the big-league club.
Tovar is the only Caribbean- or South American-born player on Hartford’s Opening Day roster, but Montes, 26, a Floridian with roots in Cuba, is in a good position to be a mentor and can translate and show him where to get his favorite foods near Dunkin’ Donuts Park.
“It’s going to be great for him here,” Montes said. “One thing that’s going to help him a lot, he wants to learn English, he wants to communicate with the team and he’s gotten really good. He’s going to learn a lot here. He’s going to have a lot of fun here.”
In talking to reporters Tovar understood questions in English, but for now prefers an interpreter for his answers. Danny Gonzalez, who broadcasts Yard Goats games in Spanish, did the honors during the team’s media day.
”There is no pressure whatsoever,” Tovar said. “I do what I do, I do the best I can. When fans walk away, I want them to think I gave 100 percent to the team and I did my best. I am going to work from the beginning and work, work, work.”
The path of his pro career during the pandemic has compelled Tovar to grow up quickly. He had not seen his family in two years before going back this offseason, and doesn’t expect them to be able to come to Hartford to visit this summer. He plans for his wife to come and join him here soon.
“He has much more maturity at that age than I remember myself having,” said Denorfia, from Southington, who played in 10 MLB seasons. “We are excited about him. He’s a great kid, a pretty humble guy, he’s one of those kids that I’m going to enjoy while we have him. And hopefully we can get him locked in and ready to go and he can move on sooner rather than later.
“I keep telling myself, ‘Wow, he’s only 20. He’s bigger than I was, stronger than I was, more developed than I was. He’s married already. He’s going to play beyond his years.”
The Yard Goats, 39-79 last season, have been assigned more talent this season, including several of the Rockies’ top prospects. Tovar, first-round pick Michael Toglia, a first baseman who finished last season in Hartford, and outfielder Brenton Doyle, are all rated in the organization’s top 10 by MLB.com. Pitcher Riley Pint is also a first-round draft pick, infielder Aaron Schunk and pitchers Karl Kauffmann and Mitch Kilkenny were all second-round picks.
The season begins Friday night in Hartford against Binghamton, the Mets affiliate, at 7 p.m.
Dom Amore can be reached at damore@courant.com
