SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Ezequiel Tovar dropped to his knees in the path between second and third base, overcome by celebration, prayer, thankfulness and emotions that transcend any language as Venezuela completed its 3-2 victory over Team USA in Tuesday’s final of the World Baseball Classic. It was a rare emotional outpouring from Tovar, a stoic fellow who can best be described as 24 going on sage. Then again, at the same time Tovar has put together mostly stellar individual performances since debuting in 2022, the Rockies have had records that force one to hold in his emotions -- with 100-plus losses in each of his three full seasons. But Tovar, who wore his Venezuela jersey around the Rockies’ complex after he rejoined the team on Thursday, showed he can let joy loose. And it was full-throated joy, as he -- and teammate Antonio Senzatela -- sang their country’s anthem from the field. “It’s joy that no one can take from us,” Tovar said, with Edwin Perez interpreting. “That’s in the history books. It’s the first for the country, so obviously that means a lot. That moment, no matter what happens in the future, is in the history books. They’ll remember Venezuela’s first WBC win. “You felt it right away. I felt it in the skin. I felt it everywhere. As soon as that national anthem hit, everyone was remembering what’s happened in Venezuela. So, obviously, that was just a beautiful moment.” |
Senzatela seconded the emotion. “You remember mom, dad, grandpa, family, everybody you know,” Senzatela said. “You remember all the kids that were playing with you in Little League. That’s amazing.” Tovar’s All-WBC performance in the tournament -- 8-for-17 (.471) with three doubles and two steals -- could be a sign of greater joy for the Rockies, who look upon him as a leader. There was a sense that stardom was coming when he led the National League with 45 doubles and led the Rockies with 26 home runs in 2024, but hip and oblique injuries last year limited him to 95 games and less-than-stellar numbers (.253 average, nine homers, 33 RBIs). Building on the WBC with a year like ‘24, or even better, could also increase awareness of Tovar beyond Colorado. “I don’t think I’ve thought of that yet,” Tovar said. “For all of us going into the WBC, we were all just trying to play our part, whether that’s hitting, defense or even running the bases. Every single moment counts.” Tovar’s moment started as a frightful one. In the eighth inning of Venezuela’s quarterfinal against Japan, Tovar took too large a lead off second base, but the pickoff throw ended up in center field. Tovar dashed home to score the final insurance run in the 8-5 upset victory. |
“As soon as I turned around to second base, I froze; I was like, ‘Oh,’” he said. “Thankfully, you know what happened.” Can Tovar, in the third year of a seven-year, $63.5 million contract, carry the spirit of the WBC to the Rockies, a young team that has been through much losing and could use some joy? Many fans and observers are calling for demonstrations of happiness and celebration across the various cultures during the Classic to become more a part of a game that -- fairly or unfairly -- is accused of being somber and self-policing. “You’ve seen a trend the past 10 years in the way the game has gone, where emotion is rampant in MLB -- and it’s a good thing,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “I think it [spreads] to each individual player. It compels them in a different way to play better, and give all they’ve got. “Emotion is a real thing in baseball. I’m watching Venezuela play and watching ‘Tovie’ play, and he had a ton of emotion that I haven’t necessarily seen from him before. And I loved it.” The MLB season is 162 games over six months, not a condensed tournament like the WBC. Still, Tovar said there is a place for happiness when things go well. “You’re going to fail,” Tovar said. “If you let that failure get into you, that’s when you know things are going to go wrong. It’s a game -- especially in the tournament -- that’s filled with passion. “So you’ve got to put that passion at the forefront.” |
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The Rockies looked at Senzatela, who was moved from the rotation to the bullpen last season, as a possible starter and had built him up to four innings before the Classic. But he only threw one inning for Venezuela in the tournament itself, allowing three runs to the Dominican Republic in a pool play game a week after going three innings in an exhibition against the Nationals.
Senzatela is scheduled to pitch tonight against the Padres in Peoria, Ariz., and is expected to begin the season in long relief. Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander are the competitors for the fifth rotation spot. “I didn’t throw too much there [at the WBC] but my arm is feeling good,” said Senzatela, 31, who is entering the final year of a five-year, $50.5 million contract with a club option for ‘27. “My body is feeling good. I just need to be here and throw a couple of games.” Senzatela, who came into camp wanting to add to his pitch mix, said he inquired Venezuelan legend and team pitching coach Johan Santana about his signature changeup. “I maybe got something good,” he said. |
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“SURVIVOR” … AN APPROPRIATE SHOW |
Catcher Braxton Fulford, a rookie last season who is in a close competition with non-roster invitee Brett Sullivan to make the Opening Day roster alongside All-Star Hunter Goodman, said he unwinds by binge-watching a show that has some parallels to Spring Training. “I’ve been watching a lot of ‘Survivor,’” Fulford said. “I’ve watched a lot of that this spring. “You have to survive the actual environment, and then there are the social aspects of the game – making alliances and whatever. It’s been cool. I’ve never really watched it until this year.” Through Thursday, Sullivan, who has played in the Majors for the Pirates and Padres, was batting .394 with a .444 on-base percentage during a steady camp. Fulford was at .265, but has hit three home runs in his past six games. Both are athletic catchers who can be used in running situations. Fulford has two years of Minor League options. Sullivan’s Minor League deal allows him to seek a Major League opportunity elsewhere if he isn’t in the Majors by June 1. While offense is meaningful, Fulford was clear that the Rockies want to see the inside aspects of his defense. “It’s controlling the pitching staff, being able to build a rapport with those guys and understand what they need, so when you go in to catch them, you’re not skipping a beat,” Fulford said. “Then at the plate, you’re having competitive at-bats.” |
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