Is Tennessee Pitcher Chase Dollander MLB Ready?
Chase Dollander is one of the most intriguing players in this upcoming MLB draft class. He is placed high up on the draft board, and many organizations in need of a strong pitcher in their rotation have their sights set on him. Just how ready is the Volunteer right-hander for the next step in professional baseball?
Dollander got his start in Knoxville back in 2022 when the Vols went an astonishing 57-9 on the season. That year was a breakout season for the young star. He finished with a record of 10-0 and an ERA of 2.39. In 79 innings pitched, he struck out 108 batters and walked just 13 while giving up only seven home runs all season. The key to Dollander's great 2022 stats is a great fastball-to-sinker/slider mix. His fastball is consistently in the high 90s, and the sinker throughs opposing batters off who begin to lock into his fastball while going up against him.
To me, what impresses MLB scouts is his great control and command over this jumble of different types of pitches he can handle. It throws batters off, and it is something that can translate to the next level. This season has come with challenges for Dollander. In 17 starts, he sits with a 7-6 record. His ERA took a jump from last season up to 4.75. The strikeout number is still very high (120), but his walk numbers and home runs given up are up at 30 and 14, respectively. The shift in numbers from 2022 to 2023 suggests that Dollander has some work to do before becoming a great arm for a team at the major league level. However, the beauty of professional baseball is the farm systems within each team. With some seasons in the minor leagues, Dollander has the potential to be a future great arm in Major League Baseball.
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