The Book of Ezequiel
Ezequiel Tovar (COL): 4-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
If there’s one thing the Rockies do well, it’s developing homegrown shortstops.
First, it was Troy Tulowitzki. Then it was Trevor Story. Today, Ezequiel Tovar seems to be on pace to be the Rockies’ next great shortstop.
Tovar showed flashes of brilliance in his first entire season in 2023. While the .253 average and .695 OPS were unimpressive, he hit 15 home runs and stole 11 bases in 615 plate appearances. It seemed like the grind of the 162-game season got to him at the end of the season. After hitting .260 with a .724 OPS before the All-Star break, his average and OPS regressed to .245 and .663 in the second half.
Tovar has gotten off to a sterling start this season, hitting .294 with a .813 OPS in 282 plate appearances. On Saturday, he hit his ninth and 10th home runs of the year, which puts him on pace to surpass his HR mark from a season ago. He only has four stolen bases, but that seems to be more due to Bud Black’s conservative managing style (the Rockies rank 18th in stolen bases) than his natural tools (he ranks in the 69th percentile in sprint speed).
It’s still a long season, and fantasy baseball managers will see if that second-half swoon hits Tovar again in 2024.
For now, fantasy managers who roster him must feel good about Tovar’s outlook, especially those playing in dynasty and keeper league formats. Tovar is someone who a roster could be built around for years to come, especially since he’s only 22 years old.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Nick Senzel (WSN): 3-3, 2 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.
Despite a solid rookie season in 2019 (12 HR and 14 SB), Senzel was a disappointment in Cincinnati. The former second-overall pick has found new life in Washington, hitting .243 with a .793 OPS, his best numbers since his rookie campaign. On Saturday, he hit his sixth home run of the year and could be on pace to surpass the career-high (13) he hit in his final season in Cincinnati a year ago.
Gavin Sheets (CHW): 3-4, HR, R, 4 RBI.
After losing 14 in a row, the White Sox have won their last two to bring their season win total up to 17 as of Sunday. Sheets has been a consistent force for the White Sox, hitting .246 with a .788 OPS in 224 plate appearances. Sheets looks much better in OBP leagues, as he is sporting a .348 mark and has a walk rate of 12.5% to a K rate of only 17%. On Saturday, he hit his seventh home run of the season. Sheets tends to sit against lefty starters, but with the White Sox so bad, one has to wonder if Sheets will get more opportunities in a rebuilding year.
Heliot Ramos (SFG): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
Ramos didn’t impress in two “cups of coffee” stints with the Giants in 2022 and 2023. However, with free agent Jung Hoo Lee hitting the IL due to a shoulder injury, Ramos has gotten an extended opportunity and made the most of it. In 117 plate appearances, Ramos is hitting .327 with a .973 OPS, including six home runs. Ramos’ batted ball metrics look promising (15.2% barrel rate and 57.6% hard-hit rate), so it doesn’t seem like this stretch is a fluke. Ramos should be snatched up immediately if he is available, as he is only rostered in 48% of Yahoo! leagues.
Rowdy Tellez (PIT): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
It’s been a rough year for Tellez in Pittsburgh, as he is hitting .208 with a .553 OPS. The Pirates were hoping that Tellez could help improve the Pirates’ overall plate discipline and bring in some power to boot. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, and the frustrated Pirates faithful have let him know it. However, Tellez homered on Saturday and was responsible for all three Pirates runs in their 3-0 win. As a result, he was given a standing ovation after the game, and his name was being chanted in PNC Park. Let’s hope that moment will help turn him around.
Bryce Harper (PHI): 3-4, 2B, HR, R, RBI.
The Phillies drew first blood in the London Series as they beat the struggling Mets 7-2. Harper was the only Philly to have multiple hits, as he collected three and hit his 15th home run of the season. Harper is slugging the ball better than ever, as he has 15 home runs this year, only five away from his mark in 2023 and three away from his total in 2022. Harper did hit 35 home runs in 2021, and based on his current pace, it’s likely that he will come close to or even surpass that mark in 2024.
Ryan O’Hearn (BAL): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, SB.
We keep expecting regression to hit O’Hearn (after all, Royals fans saw him struggle to live up to expectations year after year). And yet, it just doesn’t happen. On Saturday, O’Hearn hit his ninth home run of the year, and he seems to be a good bet to surpass his 14-HR total in 2023. Furthermore, he is hitting .285 with a .835 OPS in 180 plate appearances. He may not see the lineup against left-handed starters, but O’Hearn is a legitimate force in the middle of the Orioles lineup.
Adam Frazier (KCR): 2-2, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.
Frazier has been on fire in June, hitting .417 with a home run in 12 plate appearances. His home run came against the Mariners yesterday and in Kauffman Stadium, which traditionally has been unforgiving on hitters regarding homers. The days of Frazier being a dependable everyday hitter in fantasy, like he was with the Pirates, seem to be behind him. Still, he has found a role as a super-utility guy who can fit in multiple positions. With Michael Massey out for a bit longer due to a back issue, Frazier could be worth streaming, especially with his bat trending up.
Dansby Swanson (CHC): 3-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB.
The Cubs are trending downward, and Swanson’s struggles aren’t helping. As of Sunday, he is hitting .220 with a .658 OPS. That is a far cry from the .244 average and .744 OPS he posted in his first season in Chicago. On Saturday, he did collect three hits, including two doubles. If the Cubs want to get back in the NL Central race, they will need a turnaround from Swanson soon.
Sean Murphy (ATL): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.
Murphy was supposed to be the icing on the cake for the Atlanta superteam before the start of the 2023 season after he was acquired from Oakland. His first season lived up to the hype, as he hit 21 home runs and had a .853 OPS. However, injuries have impacted Murphy, limiting him to only 10 games in 2024. Furthermore, he hasn’t done much in that sample either. In 37 plate appearances, he is hitting .147 with an OPS of .481. He hit his first home run of the year on Saturday, so maybe he’s starting to get back in the groove, which would be welcomed by a team gutted by injuries in 2024.
WHAT DID TOVAR DO YESTERDAY? THIS IS A RECAP