Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar won his first career Gold Glove on Sunday. At 23, he became the youngest shortstop in National League history to win a Gold Glove. He beat out Dansby Swanson of the Chicago Cubs and Masyn Winn of the St. Louis Cardinals for the award. His fellow Rockie, center fielder Brenton Doyle, won his second straight Gold Glove, while third baseman Ryan McMahon was also in the running for his first career Gold Glove. Tovar was one of 14 first-timers across MLB to win a Gold Glove in 2024, showcasing the young defensive talent currently in baseball.
Ezequiel Tovar is the youngest Gold Glove shortstop in National League history. pic.twitter.com/XF3o7z8DUC
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) November 4, 2024
Rockies Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar Wins 2024 Gold Glove
Tovar’s Historic Defensive Season
Per Statmuse, Tovar is the first Rockies shortstop to win the award since Troy Tulowitzki won in 2011. He joins Tulowitzki (2010-11) and Neifi Perez (2000) as the only Rockies shortstops to win the award. Per Statcast, Tovar finished with 15 outs above average, ranking in the 98th percentile.
Tovar winning his first Gold Glove is a stamp of approval on his status as one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. Tovar and McMahon continue to lock down the left side of the infield for the Rockies. He finished with a fielding percentage of .988 for the second straight season and finished first or second in numerous defensive categories in the National League:
- 435 assists – first
- 113 double plays turned – first
- 18 Total Zone Runs – second
- 4.25 Range factor – first
Bright Future As a Rockie
The Rockies always knew that Tovar was glove-ready when he came out of the minor leagues. They just needed to see his offense improve. Tovar was vastly improved offensively in 2024, leading the Rockies in batting average (.269), RBI (78), home runs (26), and hits (176). His all-around stellar play led to a team-leading WAR of 3.7.
The Rockies wisely locked Tovar down as their shortstop of the future, signing him to a seven-year, $63.5 million contract extension before the 2024 season.
It was a long season for the Rockies, as they finished with 100-plus losses (61-101) for the second straight season. But Tovar is a bright spot, emerging as one of the best young talents in the league. The Rockies have a recent history of excellence at the position in Tulowitzki and Trevor Story. Tovar is well on his way to joining them.
Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
