Rockies add World Baseball Classic champions back to their roster

Ezequiel Tovar was a standout player in the World Baseball Classic, appearing to reach base consistently throughout the tournament.

The Rockies' shortstop didn't start in Venezuela's opening pool play game, but he seized his opportunity when called upon and never looked back.

Tovar was named to the 2026 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament team at shortstop, posting a .471 batting average, highlighted by a 2-for-4 performance in the championship game against Team USA.

He also delivered a dominant performance, recording three hits and scoring three runs in the upset win against the defending champion, Japan.

Antonio Senzatela, conversely, saw limited playing time in this tournament, as he was primarily used in a long relief role.

He pitched against the Dominican Republic in Pool Play, a game Venezuela lost 7-5. Senza surrendered a three-run home run to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the fourth inning. He allowed three runs on two hits in his only inning of work.

It was highly improbable to see Senza in a prominent role during the WBC, but he's now etched in history as part of Venezuela's inaugural World Baseball Classic championship team.

Now, the two will return to the Rockies, where they aim to improve upon the franchise's worst season in 2025, with only 43 wins.

This spring, a noticeable buzz surrounds Rockies camp. Even Colorado's top prospect, Ethan Holliday, has commented on the positive change, attributing it to the new front-office leadership and strategic free agent signings that aim to bolster their roster depth.

Now, factor in the WBC effect with Tovar and Senzatela's contributions to the championship win, where they took down the favored Team USA.

Tovar will look to continue his hot start at the plate in the WBC after being limited to 95 games due to injuries last season, while Senzatela is projected to be a long reliever in Colorado's bullpen.