Ezequiel Jesus Tovar (born August 1, 2001) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Career

Tovar signed with the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent on August 1, 2017.^[1]

Tovar made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Rockies, batting .262 with 11 RBIs over 35 games. In 2019, he split time between the rookie–level Grand Junction Rockies and the Low–A Boise Hawks with whom he slashed .253/.318/.322 with two home runs, 16 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases over 73 games. He did not play game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] Tovar spent the 2021 season with the Single–A Fresno Grizzlies and High–A Spokane Indians, slashing .287/.322/.475 with 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, thirty doubles, and 24 stolen bases.^[3] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.^[4] He was selected to the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.^[5]

Tovar began the 2022 season with the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats, playing in 66 games and hitting .318/.386/.546 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. He was promoted to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes on September 15, 2022.^[6] After 5 games for Albuquerque, Tovar was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[7] Tovar made his major league debut on September 23, notching his first career hit off of Sean Manaea of the San Diego Padres.^[8] On October 5, the final day of the season, Tovar hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.^[9]