SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Still relishing his country’s World Baseball Classic championship, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar wore his Venezuela jersey as long as possible Thursday night.

Yes, Tovar had to switch into his Rockies gear before taking the field against the San Francisco Giants at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. However, in the clubhouse and even in the pregame batting cage, Tovar was still representing his home country by wearing his WBC jersey.

“For us players, it was a big blessing to put on the Venezuelan uniform and be able to represent the country,” Tovar said through interpreter Edwin Perez. “Trust me when I say this: Venezuela had a big party when we won, so I know they (the citizens) are very happy. That means a lot.”

Venezuela’s Ezequiel Tovar celebrates a double during the eighth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Japan, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tovar and Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela were teammates on the Venezuela team that shocked many in the WBC by knocking out defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals and besting the United States in the championship game. The Colorado duo shared an emotional moment with each other and their countrymen after the game when the Venezuelan national anthem played — not only because of what had just happened in the title game but for all of the moments that led up to the victory as well.

“I felt like I wanted to cry,” Senzatela said. “When the national anthem was sung, you remember mom, dad, grandpas, family and everyone you know. You remember all of the kids who were playing with you in the little leagues and things like that.”

Part of the emotions felt by Tovar and Senzatela came from not only childhood memories of their time in Venezuela, but also acknowledging some of the recent difficult times faced in their country.

“They needed the joy of it,” Tovar said of his country during the WBC run. “During the national anthem, you felt it in your skin, in your head and everywhere. You remember what’s happened in the country. It was a very beautiful moment, and it was a chance just to reflect on the emotions of everything around it.”

Senzatela saw action in one game out of the Venezuelan bullpen. Tovar earned all-WBC honors at shortstop by batting .471, stealing a pair of bases and playing Gold Glove-level defense at the position.

Venezuela catcher William Contreras (23) talks with pitcher Antonio Senzatela during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the Dominican Republic, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

The 24-year-old Tovar shrugged off the accolades, however, focusing more on the team accomplishments.

“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,” Tovar said. “We wanted to make every single moment count, just trying to do our best and put our effort in.”

Now the duo will spend the final few days of spring training preparing to open the season in Miami against the Marlins on March 27. Tovar will take over at shortstop for the remainder of spring as Senzatela prepares for a role in the bullpen to start the season. Manager Warren Schaeffer said Thursday he didn’t believe Senzatela would be stretched out enough to open the season in the rotation.

Charlie Condon to start season in minor leagues

Colorado’s first base picture gained some clarity on Thursday when the Rockies reassigned Charlie Condon to minor league camp. Condon, ranked second on Colorado’s prospect list heading into the season, will likely begin the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Condon’s minor league assignment likely opens the door for TJ Rumfield to begin the season on the roster and perhaps draw the Opening Day start at first base.

Rumfield, acquired in January from the New York Yankees in exchange for reliever Angel Chivilli, continued his strong spring on Thursday night, hitting a first-inning RBI single to score fellow newcomer Willi Castro. It was his team-leading 11th RBI of the spring.

He has also struck out just one time through his first 44 spring at-bats, an important statistic for a Rockies team that struck out more than any other National League team in 2025.

“I think it’s just trying to have a solid approach to each pitcher that comes out there,” Rumfield said. “I think my plans have gotten a lot better. I’ve been in Triple-A for the last two years and I’ve been able to build a better plan, day in and day out. This spring, I feel like, physically, I’m in a good spot. Mentally, I’m in a better spot.”

Part of that mentality comes from having an opportunity to compete for the first base job rather than be blocked at the position as he was in the Yankees system.

“That’s not a bad thing. They had good players,” Rumfield said of his situation with the Yankees. “I’m just excited that the (Rockies) front office sees a future in me.”