Colorado Rockies prospect Ezequiel Tovar impressing in spring training

While he may still be some time away from stepping onto the infield at Coors Field, Colorado Rockies shortstop prospect Ezequiel Tovar is already giving Rockies fans plenty to be excited about when it comes to the future of the position.

Colorado Rockies prospect Ezequiel Tovar has already flashed his offensive and defensive skills in spring training

While the 20-year-old Tovar has been lauded extensively for his defensive abilities, he flashed on Thursday afternoon exactly what he can bring at the plate as well.

In a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Tovar stepped to the plate with the Rockies trailing by one run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tovar went down 0-2 in the count to Dodgers pitcher Reyes Moronta, then connected on what would be the game-tying home run as the contest ended in a 6-6 deadlock.

After swinging through a slider and then fouling off the next slider from Moronta, Tovar wasn’t fooled by the 94 mile per hour fastball the right-hander threw on the next pitch to try to retire Tovar and end the game. He fouled it off, then took an 81 mile per hour hanging slider over the plate deep over the left field wall.

Tovar connected on 15 combined home runs between Low-A Fresno and High-A Spokane, so the power shouldn’t be a surprise to Rockies fans. Tovar also showed good plate discipline last season, striking out in just 13.2 percent of his plate appearances.

Along with power, Tovar is showing his overall hitting prowess as well in the spring, collecting eight hits in his first 13 at-bats.

“He’s showing something for a young, young kid,” Rockies manager Bud Black told MLB.com. “Good for him. He’s doing great.”

Tovar’s development in the minors and his timeline for reaching Denver is something that Rockies fans should be watching as the 2022 season rolls along.