Tovar, Rockies agree to 7-year extension
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- After being named a National League Gold Glove finalist as a rookie, the Rockies on Tuesday inked shortstop Ezequiel Tovar to a seven-year extension with a club option for 2031.
Terms of the deal were not announced, but according to El ExtraBase, which first reported the agreement, it's worth $63.5 million. Tovar can earn a total of $84 million if the option is exercised.
“We are excited to be able to secure Ezequiel’s future in Denver with this extension,” said Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt. “He has already proven he is one of the best shortstops in baseball, and we see him as a cornerstone of this franchise for years to come.”
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Tovar, 22, appeared in 153 games last season and slashed .253/.287/.408 with 15 home runs and 73 RBIs. His 37 doubles tied Hall of Famer Todd Helton (1998) for most by a rookie in team history.
A Maracay, Venezuela, native, Tovar also finished with 11 stolen bases to become the second Venezuelan rookie in history with 15 or more homers and double figures in steals. The Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. had 26 homers and 16 steals in 2018.
Defensively, Tovar’s .988 fielding percentage broke a MLB rookie shortstop record previously held by the Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki -- .987 in 2007.
Tovar -- who on Sept. 23, 2022 was the youngest player to debut in club history (21 years, 53 days), and last year was the youngest player in club history to start on Opening Day (21 years, 240 days) -- is considered a leader in an infield that also has 2022 Gold Glove winner Brendan Rodgers at second base and three-time Gold Glove finalist Ryan McMahon at third.
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