Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is injured again. Is this a concerning trend for the Rockies’ shortstop or a minor setback in a healthy career? Across 2023-24, Tovar played in a whopping 310 games, leading the Rockies both seasons in games played. 65 games into the 2025 season, Tovar will fall well short of that marker. He previously missed a month beginning on April 16 due to a left hip contusion. After returning on May 16, Tovar was scorching hot and added some much-needed offense to the struggling Rockies. But retroactive to June 3, Ezequiel Tovar is back on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
Ezequiel Tovar Injured Again for Rockies
The Steady Force Amidst Rockies’ Instability
It has been a long and trying rebuild for the Rockies and their star shortstop. The 12-53 Rockies are well on pace for their third consecutive 100+ loss season, and it has been the worst one yet. One of the brightest spots in this tumultuous time for the franchise has been Tovar. Alongside center fielder Brenton Doyle, the 23-year-old has emerged as a player the Rockies can build around.
On a team that seems to be in constant flux, Tovar has proven he can be the long-term answer at shortstop. He led the Rockies in numerous offensive categories last season, including batting average (.269), hits (176), home runs (26), and RBI (78). He won his first career Gold Glove in 2024. Per Statcast, he finished with an incredible 15 outs above average last season (98th percentile).
With what Tovar brings to both sides of the ball, even the best MLB teams would have a hard time without him. With the Rockies immersed in the cellar, they definitely can’t afford to miss Tovar for any extended period. Yes, it has been exciting to see Ryan Ritter finally get his deserved chance after an incredible month of offensive production at Triple-A Albuquerque. But it is just unfortunate that getting Ritter means no Tovar. The Rockies’ most consistent force has shown cracks in the armor this season. Is it a sign of things to come or just an unlucky start to the season?
Rockies call up Ryan Ritter for MLB debut, place Ezequiel Tovar on IL amid flurry of moves https://t.co/8x4clZnxd8
— Denver Post Rockies (@DPRockies) June 6, 2025
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Tovar Entered This Season With Plenty of Mileage
The most frustrating thing about sports is injury. When there is a special talent like Tovar, it has to be truly appreciated that he plays as much as he does. Per Statmuse, Tovar was tied for 17th in MLB with 310 games played across 2023-24. Veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon ranks second behind Tovar with 305 games played over the last two seasons. McMahon has been incredibly durable in his Rockies career, playing in at least 151 games in every season since 2021. Tovar was on that pace before the setbacks this season.
There are a decent number of players, including McMahon, who can routinely play 150+ games every season, an incredible feat in the marathon that is the MLB regular season. Tovar will always be an everyday player who, when healthy, will play in 150+ games. No data says if Tovar had been held out a few more Sundays over the past couple of seasons, he would not have the injury issues this season. But it is fair to wonder if the tread on his tires had at least a little bit to do with it.
The good news for the Rockies is that this is a lost season anyway, and Tovar doesn’t have to prove anything as a player. There is no rush to get him back, and Rockies’ manager Warren Schaeffer has expressed as much.
“[Precaution] is what it was for me last night — getting him out of the game. As I understand, obliques are serious things,” said Schaeffer after Tovar left the Rockies’ 6-4 win against the Miami Marlins early on Monday.
There is no timetable for Tovar to return. Per MLB’s Health and Injury Tracking System (HITS), it typically takes around 27 days for a player to recover from a grade 1 oblique strain. Grade 1 is a mild strain, which appears to be what Tovar is dealing with. If it is a grade 2 (moderate) strain, that timeline could be significantly longer.
No Need to Rush Tovar’s Recovery
In the best-case scenario, it seems that Tovar will be back in almost a month. No doubt, the Rockies will continue to use an abundance of caution in working Tovar back. The only way this season could get worse is if one of the Rockies’ franchise cornerstones suffers a serious injury. While missing two months of the season is well off the pace Tovar has set for himself early in his career, it is hopefully a blip on the radar.
Neither injury was soft tissue, which requires surgery and long recovery times. Also, in the long run, perhaps getting Tovar off his feet for an extended period in a lost season will serve him well in the future.
He is still very young and has not suffered any serious setbacks. If the Rockies handle the recovery process the right way, Tovar will get back on his own time. Hopefully, he’ll be feeling rejuvenated and ready to put the first injury problems he has dealt with in his bright MLB career behind him.
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