November 4th 2024.
Ezequiel Tovar, a talented shortstop for the Colorado Rockies, has recently gained national recognition for his exceptional defensive skills. This comes as no surprise to loyal Rockies fans as they have been witnessing Tovar's impressive performance for the past two years. On Sunday, Tovar was awarded his first National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award, a prestigious honor in the world of baseball. This achievement is a result of his impressive 11.2 ultimate zone rating, which is an advanced statistic that quantifies a player's defensive abilities by measuring the number of runs they save.
At just 23 years and 60 days old, Tovar has become the youngest shortstop in NL history to win the Gold Glove Award. He is also the second-youngest player in franchise history to receive this accolade, second only to Nolan Arenado who won the award in 2013. Tovar's journey to winning the Gold Glove this year was not an easy one, as he was a finalist for the award last year. However, his hard work paid off, and he took home the prestigious award this season. Tovar's exceptional performance throughout the summer was a key factor in his win. He ranked second among all MLB shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage and became only the 15th player in MLB history to have a season with at least 675 total chances and eight or fewer errors.
Tovar's achievement makes him the 10th player in franchise history to win the Gold Glove Award, and only the third shortstop to do so. The other two shortstops are Neifi Pérez, who won in 2000, and Troy Tulowitzki, who won in 2010 and 2011. Tovar was also one of 14 first-time winners of the award this year, making his win even more special. Not only did Tovar impress with his flashy plays, but he also excelled in traditional defensive metrics. He led all MLB shortstops in total chances and double plays, as well as assists with 435. He also ranked third among NL shortstops in outs above average, a statistic that measures the number of outs a player saves.
Tovar's defensive skills were evident from the start of his career in 2023. He quickly made his way through the minor leagues and made his debut with the Rockies on September 23, 2022, at just 21 years and 53 days old. This made him the youngest position player to ever debut in franchise history. While Tovar's batting skills have also been on the rise, with a .269 batting average, 26 home runs, and an NL-best 45 doubles this season, his defensive abilities have continued to be his strongest suit in his two years as the Rockies' starting shortstop.
The Rockies recognized Tovar's talent and potential, which is why they signed him to a seven-year extension, with a club option for 2031, back in March before the start of the season. Tovar has proven himself to be an elite defender, not just in the past year, but also in the past two years combined. His impressive .988 fielding percentage ranks second among all MLB shortstops, and he leads the league in total chances (1,254), assists (827), and double plays (208). Tovar also ranks second among all MLB shortstops in outs above average (30) and defensive runs saved (22) in the same time frame.
Tovar was not the only Rockies player to win a Gold Glove Award this year, as center fielder Brenton Doyle also received the honor. Tovar beat out Masyn Winn from the St. Louis Cardinals and Dansby Swanson from the Chicago Cubs, while Doyle won over Jacob Young from the Washington Nationals and Blake Perkins from the Milwaukee Brewers. This is the first time in three years that the Rockies have had two players win a Gold Glove in the same season, with the last pair being Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu in 2018. Tovar and Doyle also make history as the first infield/outfield pair to win the award in the same season since Arenado and Carlos González in 2013.
Unfortunately, third baseman Ryan McMahon, who was also a finalist for the award, did not win and lost out to Matt Chapman from the San Francisco Giants. This was McMahon's fourth consecutive year as a finalist, but he is yet to win the coveted award. Tovar, on the other hand, has proven himself to be a worthy recipient of the Gold Glove Award and has solidified his place as one of the top shortstops in the league. With his talent and potential, it is no surprise that the Rockies have secured him for the next seven years. Tovar's impressive glovework has been a significant factor in the team's success, and he will undoubtedly continue to be a valuable asset in the years to come.
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