Tovar is the voice of Denver airport -- and the heart of the Rockies

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

WASHINGTON – Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and his wife, Laura, were two drowsy passengers with another passenger, Luciano, their now 14-month-old boy.

Their trip back to Denver International Airport, from their time off for the All-Star break, landed at 2 a.m., and they boarded the inner-airport train to the terminal. The happy little ringtone was jarring enough. Then he was welcomed to Denver – by his own voice, endearingly in English.

“I was with my wife, and all of a sudden I heard my voice,” Tovar said with a smile in Spanish, with bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz interpreting. “I turned red – embarrassed and shocked by it.

“Being from Venezuela, I would have never imagined myself being on the speaker system, there on the train in Denver.”

Tovar recorded the message, which he repeated in Spanish, but didn’t realize the turnaround would be so quick.

But stardom often happens quickly, although Tovar is taking his time finding his place in it.

Tovar, 23, has earned recognition. His 140 hits rank fifth in the National League, and his 34 doubles are tied for second. Defensively, he was a finalist for a Gold Glove Award as a rookie in 2023, and there has been no drop in his sophomore campaign.

“He’s doing great,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “I don’t get to see all the other young shortstops on a daily basis like I do Tovar, but my eye and the coaches’ eye tell us he’s doing fine for a 23-year-old player. The energy level, the focus, the first inning to ninth inning consistency on defense is there.”

Tovar possesses aspects of stardom that don’t go on a stat sheet, at least not directly. He has uncommon maturity and baseball knowledge. His confidence allows him to make what many would consider major adjustments. Of course, his seven-year, $63.5 million contract (with a club option worth $25 million or a $2.5 million buyout) also screams stardom.

But how do Tovar and the Rockies capitalize?

Over the last two years, Tovar has been the steadiest of the performers who have become regulars – the guys who believe they will grow into a winning team. Left fielder Nolan Jones, center fielder Brenton Doyle and first baseman Michael Toglia were rookies last season, like Tovar. Recently called-up catcher Drew Romo and right fielder Jordan Beck are rookies now. But Tovar considers himself with the crew, not above it.

“As far as being the face of the franchise, this is a young group and everybody’s the face of the franchise here,” Tovar said. “When it comes to that part of the game, when it comes to supporting the fans and doing whatever needs to be done, I’m more than happy to do that.”

But Tovar has a magnetism that the Rockies – a franchise that has never been big on highlighting individuals – could use as an opportunity.

On Aug. 10, the Rockies held Tovar City Connect Jersey Night. Tovar celebrated with a double and two RBIs. Seeing several rosters full of Tovars was something he couldn’t imagine “in my wildest dreams.”

Tovar also recognizes that there is a large, if largely untapped by the Rockies, Spanish-speaking community in Denver. He said he is “grateful, and surprised” and loves to meet the many Venezuelans who work at Coors Field during the season.

Tovar hesitates to speak English on camera or in interviews, although he has put in time to study the language – and the recording at DIA has been well-received. The idea of local commercials brings a laugh and a “maybe,” though he said he flies under the radar in Venezuela.

But in his way, Tovar hopes to inspire his fans.

“I’m an extremely humble person – very quiet,” Tovar said. “If I run across a fan and I’m able to give back to the fans, I’d be happy to do that. But overall, I think the way I play and give 100 percent on the field, I think that’s what the fans appreciate.”