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Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar goes in-depth on difficult season: ‘No excuses’ amid injuries

By Kevin Henry Special to The Denver Gazette July 25, 2025 | updated 4 days ago

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Twins Rockies Baseball

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar heads up the first base line after hitting a three-run home run off Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Brock Stewart in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

David Zalubowski

Time is running out for Ezequiel Tovar to fashion a silver lining on what has been a frustrating and injury-filled season.

Having logged just 37 games before the Colorado Rockies began a six-game road trip through Baltimore and Cleveland to finish out July, Tovar admitted that it’s hard to not put pressure on himself to make up for lost time.

After being sidelined with a left hip contusion in mid-April and a left oblique injury at the start of June, Tovar now finds himself not only wanting to stay healthy, but also to help the Rockies avoid a potentially historic losing season.

This year’s injuries have made the “what if” even more painful, coming off a 2024 season in which Tovar not only won his first Gold Glove at shortstop but also led the National League in at-bats with 655.

Last season, the 23-year-old Venezuela native was the model of consistency for the Rockies. This year, it’s about trying to forget the past and make the most out of the 60 games left when the weekend began.

“They advised me that it’s a tough injury. It’s an injury you might have to deal with for the rest of the season,” Tovar said through team interpreter Edwin Perez about his oblique. “It’s an injury that hits everyone a little different, and it’s going to feel different every day.”

There have been days this season where the Rockies infield has felt different every day as well. Tovar has seen his playing time curtailed and second baseman Thairo Estrada has spent plenty of time on the IL as well. Colorado’s most notable free agent signing of the offseason, Estrada had played in just 29 games this year before the series opener in Baltimore.

Estrada and Tovar have been in the same starting lineup just three times this season. A middle infield that was projected to be a strength for the Rockies simply hasn’t had time to bear any fruit. However, Tovar refuses to say that’s been a factor in Colorado’s trek toward a third consecutive 100-loss season.

“I don’t use those injuries or anything else that’s happened to us as an excuse about everything that’s going on,” Tovar said. “We have to understand what’s going on and I think everyone has to play their part when they’re in the lineup. I think we can be good as a whole unit.”

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When Tovar has been on the field , he has performed well, slashing .265/.303/.442 through his first 158 plate appearances. All those numbers are above his career averages and reminders that Tovar doesn’t need to overcompensate to try to make up for lost time.

“In some ways, yes,” Tovar responded when asked if there was a desire to make up for those missed games by trying to do more at the plate. “However, I’m going trust that whatever God has in store for me, I’m going to go out there and play my part.”

Tovar does have experience during his professional career with bouncing back after extended time away from the field because of injury. In 2022, while in Double-A, Tovar was out from June 29 to Sept. 15 because of a groin injury. However, he debuted with the Rockies on Sept. 22 and took over as the starting shortstop in 2023.

Are good things ahead for Tovar after the gaps in play in 2025? Tovar hopes so, but he acknowledges this year’s injuries presented different challenges to him as he had never dealt with either a hip or oblique injury before.

“In Hartford, it was an injury that I knew what it was going to take to get back on the field,” Tovar explained. “This year, these injuries have been two different things that I haven’t gone through, which has made it very tough.”

Now having Tovar back in the lineup, interim manager Warren Schaeffer usually has placed him second in the batting order. When he’s batting second, Tovar is slashing .303/.343/.495 in 108 plate appearances, helping solidify the top of the order.

“Any time you can have Ezequiel Tovar in the ‘2’ hole, I think a lot of teams would like to have him there,” Schaeffer said. “That’s where he’s probably going to hit a lot of the time, but it’s just good to have him in the lineup.”

As the calendar prepares to flip to August, Tovar wants to stay in the lineup and produce where he can.

“I’m getting healthier and I’m dealing with it,” Tovar said of the oblique injury. “I’m just hoping it stays good and I can continue to play and help the team win.”

(Contact Gazette sports columnist Paul Klee at paul.klee@gazette.com or on Twitter at @bypaulklee.)

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