Ezequiel Tovar is the latest of a lineage of standout Colorado shortstops, and the Rockies locked him up accordingly on Sunday.

Daniel Alvarez-Montes first reported the seven-year, $63.5 million extension that, with a club option, could make the shortstop as much as $84 million if exercised. All told the deal would send Tovar into true free agency for the first time at 29 years old.

Troy Tulowitzki started the trend, Trevor Story continued it and Tovar is the latest Rockies’ shortstop to make a quick impact — as a rookie, he was a 2023 Gold Glove finalist.

Tovar hit .253 last year as a rookie and broke multiple playing-time milestones for the franchise after appearing in 153 games.

He, along with Brendan Rodgers, and top-prospect Adael Amador make up Colorado’s future middle infield. Colorado has a core in place around him, too. Nolan Jones, Brenton Doyle, Kyle Freeland and Ryan McMahon are all locked up until at least 2027.

The signing is also a sign of the team’s growing talent pool of international free agents. He was signed in 2017, and Amador, Yanquiel Fernandez (Rockies’ No. 3 prospect), Dylan Jorge (No. 7) and Robert Calaz (No. 11) are also in the group. For his efforts, longtime scout Rolando Fernandez was named the 2023 International Scout of the Year at the league’s winter meetings.

Ezequiel Tovar career stats

Games: 162

Slash line: .251/.285/.404

Doubles: 38

Home runs: 16

Runs driven in: 75

Nolan Jones is fine, and ready for opening day after an injury scare on Saturday

Nolan Jones fouled a pitch off his right knee on Saturday and initially feared the worst.

After rolling up his pant leg, though, he realized that the ball hit below his kneecap, and not above it. Before seeing the bruise’s location, he told reporters that he feared a broken kneecap because his foot went numb on impact. The scare has faded, and Jones has already said he will be ready for opening day against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, and may also appear again in exhibition action before then.

Jones has arguably the highest ceiling of any Rockies’ player, and his 20-home run, 20-steal season as a rookie in 2023 only added to the hype. He hit .297 across 367 at-bats but has started slow in 2024.

The outfielder is hitting .255 in spring training and has yet to homer. It is not a new trend for Jones, though, as he has struggled in nearly all of his spring training chances since being drafted in 2016.

Colorado will need every bit of his potential to avoid 100 losses in 2024, and Sunday’s news was a positive step forward after his injury scare.

The Rockies swung a trade for a new backup outfielder and ditched Bradley Zimmer

Bradley Zimmer hit better this spring training than he ever has as a pro, but the Rockies are moving on from the veteran outfielder anyway.

He hit .378 in 45 spring at-bats but was replaced Sunday after the Rockies acquired Jake Cave from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. To the newly-acquired, 31-year-old’s credit, he hit .324 in 37 spring at-bats before being acquired.

Zimmer was released in a corresponding move, and Germán Márquez was moved to the 60-day injured list to make room on the team’s 40-man roster. He is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2023.

Cave is entering his seventh major league season after a short stint with the Phillies, and a five-year stretch with Minnesota. The Twins added him in a 2018 trade after he was initially drafted by the New York Yankees in 2011.

In six seasons, he has played in the outfield and at first base and hit .231 in 1,106 at-bats. The leftie will assume a role backing up Brenton Doyle and the club’s young outfield — if he beats out Greg Jones, who was also added in a trade this week.

Rockies 7, White Sox 3

What happened: Hunter Goodman’s go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning proved to be the difference for the Rockies in their second, late-inning win of the last three days.

On the mound: Austin Gomber made his final spring training start and went five innings. He allowed an earned run on four hits and struck out three. Victor Vodnik allowed an earned run and has in his last two appearances and four of his last six. Matt Koch, Matt Carasiti and Riley Pint tossed scoreless innings, though, to contain Chicago.

At the plate: Goodman’s home run was his third of the season and came with two outs. Trevor Boone also hit his first long ball of spring in just his second at-bat of the exhibition slate. Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-3 with a double to raise his average to .378. He has hits in his last three games and hasn’t gone more than two consecutive games without a hit in spring training. Colorado had nine hits overall, and six strikeouts.

What’s next: Colorado Rockies (RHP Dakota Hudson, 1-1) at Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Colin Rea, 0-0) at 2:10 p.m. on Monday at American Family Fields of Phoenix.