Colorado Rockies prospects Michael Toglia, Ezequiel Tovar recognized for defensive prowess

MLB.com named the best defensive players for each team as well as their “all-defense team” and two Colorado Rockies prospects were named on it.

For the Rockies best defensive player, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar was named the best in the organization and first baseman Michael Toglia was named on the second-team “all-defense team.”

Colorado Rockies prospects Ezequiel Tovar and Michael Toglia were recognized for their defense

Ezequiel Tovar and Michael Toglia are two of the top prospects in the Colorado Rockies farm system and part of it is because of their defensive abilities.

Tovar, 20, is currently ranked as the #11 prospect in the Rockies system by MLB.com and his defense is the best tool that he has. On a scouting scale (20-80), his fielding is ranked at a 65. The only thing that is rated below average for him is his power, which is at a 40.

Tovar split the 2021 season between Low-A Fresno and High-A Spokane and combined between the two, Tovar hit .287/.322/.475 with 15 homers, 72 RBI, 30 doubles, and 24 stolen bases in 104 games. But he only hit .239/.266/.396 in his 32 games in Spokane.

Defensively, most scouts think that he would be a great defensive shortstop in the majors right now as he has “plus hands, a strong arm, and incredibly smooth actions,” per MLB.com

Toglia is three years older than Tovar and he was drafted by the Rockies in 2019 out of college so he is a bit more developed overall. He split the 2021 season between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford. He struggled with the average in 2021 but was better with the other slash line stats as he hit .228/.333/.445 with 22 homers and 84 RBI between the two levels.

He is currently ranked as the Rockies #6 prospect, according to MLB.com, with his fielding tool being rated the best. He has a 60 rating for fielding with his hit tool and running tool (45) being ranked the lowest.

He has an “above-average arm and excellent hands” that could be used in the outfield as well but the Rockies have exclusively used him at first base. However, he did play some outfield in college.

If each of their bats develop more in 2022, Toglia could spend some in Triple-A and Tovar could see some time in Double-A