The time has finally arrived.
The Colorado Rockies are calling up their top infield prospect, Ezequiel Tovar.
It’s Tovar Time.
Daniel Alvarez of El Extra Base first reported the news of Colorado promoting Tovar following his 2-for-4 performance with Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday afternoon.
The next generation of Rockies have been arriving all throughout the 2022 season.
Michael Toglia, Elehuris Montero, Sean Bouchard and Brian Serven represent the position players providing promise for a better tomorrow.
Jake Bird, Chad Smith, Gavin Hollowell and, when he debuts, Noah Davis are the pitchers who should be an important part of the club’s future.
And now Tovar.
Winner of the 2022 Abby Greer Award as the Most Valuable Player during this past Spring Training, Tovar impressed coaches and teammates alike during Cactus League play.
As a 20-year-old facing big league veterans a decade older at times, he hit .550 (11-for-20) with two doubles and three home runs.
Now at 21 years old, Tovar is set to become the youngest position player to suit up for Colorado in the 30 season history of the franchise when he debuts.
Tovar was overlooked entering the 2021 season as his name was outside the Rockies’ top 10 prospects.
He started out well as a 19-year-old in Low-A Fresno before advancing to High-A Spokane where he competed against players four-years older on average last year.
A stint in the prestigious Arizona Fall League provided the finishing touches for him to find himself listed among the best minor leaguers in the game.
He started 2022 at Double-A Hartford where he led the Eastern League in several categories during his time with the Yard Goats: .318 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI.
Tovar was named to the MLB Futures Game alongside fellow top prospect Zac Veen before bowing out with a groin injury that ultimately sidelined the Venezuela-born product for two-plus months.
Rehab took place at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale before he was eventually activated from the injured list and promoted to Triple-A last week.
The slick-fielding upstart hit .333 (7-for-21) with a home run and two runs batted in over his five games with the Isotopes since September 15.
The debut of Tovar will most certainly cut into the playing time of Alan Trejo who took over at shortstop for José Iglesias who went to the IL with a right hand contusion on September 6.
Manager Bud Black said on Wednesday that Trejo may spend some time learning the outfield next spring whereas Iglesias will be a free agent at the end of the season.
The hope rides with Tovar.
Hopefully, it’ll be his job much like the way Troy Tulowitzki and Trevor Story took the shortstop position and didn’t let go.
Let the Tovar Era begin.
(Photo Credit: Colorado Rockies)
