Minor League Baseball

Colorado Rockies Top Prospect Chase Dollander Expected to Make MLB Debut in May

Chase Dollander struggled in spring training, but one MLB expert thinks the Colorado Rockies' top prospect won't spend very long in Triple-A this season.
Sam Connon|
Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

In this story:

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies' pitching staff could be getting some reinforcements in the near future, specifically in the form of 23-year-old right-hander Chase Dollander.

MLB Pipeline's Sam Dykstra published an article Tuesday predicting which top prospects would make their big league debuts this season. In the case of Dollander, Dykstra believes he will be join the Rockies' MLB rotation at some point in May.

Dollander spent spring training with the Rockies, making six starts during Cactus League play. He went 2-3 with a 7.13 ERA, 1.528 WHIP and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, resulting in a demotion to Triple-A Albuquerque to open the regular season.

In his first career Triple-A start, though, Dollander allowed just one earned run with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.

The Rockies selected Dollander with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut in 2024, going 6-2 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.195 WHIP and 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings between High-A and Double-A.

MLB Pipeline has Dollander ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Colorado's farm system. He is ranked No. 24 overall, which is fifth-highest among right-handed pitchers.

As it stands, the Rockies' starting rotation is made up of Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, Ryan Feltner and Germán Márquez. Austin Gomber is still on the injured list, having made his first rehab start in Triple-A over the weekend, so Colorado does not currently have a fifth starter.

Dollander won't beat Gomber back to the big league roster, barring a setback in Gomber's recovery from his shoulder soreness, but he may not be that far behind after all.

Related MiLB Stories

  • HARRINGTON PROMOTED: Thomas Harrington, who is ranked as the No. 78 prospect in baseball, is set to make his MLB debut in the Pirates' showdown with the Rays on Tuesday. CLICK HERE
  • KURTZ BLOWING UP: It didn't take long for Nick Kurtz to establish himself as a threat at the plate in Triple-A, as the Athletics' top prospect crushed a 418-foot home run on Saturday. CLICK HERE
  • O'S GET TOP PROSPECT BACK: Juan Nuñez is once again a top-30 prospect in the Orioles' farm system after failing to make the Padres' roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick. CLICK HERE

Follow MiLB On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Minor League Baseball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.

Published | Modified
Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

Home/NEWS