Ezequiel Tovar 2026 Player Outlook: A Steady Volume Play at Shortstop
After breaking out with a .269 AVG and 26 home runs in 2024, Tovar took a step back in 2025. Injuries limited him to just 95 games, and he hit .253/.294/.400 with nine homers and five steals in 390 PA. That was good for just a 78 wRC+, making him a rather weak bat altogether. Tovar wasn't really projected as a power hitter coming up, and it would be hard to imagine him breaking 25 home runs again. His 89.4 mph average exit velocity and 38.9% hard hit rate are both solidly below average, and the .200 ISO he put up in 2024 is 29 points higher than his career mark. Tover has a big contract, bats leadoff, and has a great glove, which means he should get a ton of PA if healthy. His poor plate discipline and high strikeout rates hurt his batting average ability, though he could threaten to hit around .269 again thanks to his home ballpark. He could also reach double digit steals if fully healthy, though I wouldn't expect more than 10 or 11. Still, this isn't a very exciting player to draft. He has a low ceiling and plays for a horrible team. 2024 may've been his apex at the plate, and he might struggle to recapture those power numbers. Tovar is best used as a volume play, and he has more value in deeper leagues where playing time is scarce on the wire.
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