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Encouraging Debut for Rockies’ Chase Dollander at Coors Field

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Chase Dollander had his ups and downs, but got the win in his big league debut for the Rockies on Sunday

Right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander, the Colorado Rockies’ top-ranked prospect, made his major league debut on Sunday against the Athletics. The outing showed promise for the Rockies moving forward. Dollander was drafted ninth overall out of the University of Tennessee in 2023. Since then, he has been arguably the most hyped Rockies pitching prospect in franchise history. After a solid spring training debut this season, the talk about him starting out the season with the club only grew.

However, a couple of starts where he struggled led the Rockies to send him to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the season. But opportunity finds talent. Left-handed starter Austin Gomber got hurt late in spring training and went on the 15-day IL. After working with a four-man rotation for the first two series, the Rockies called up Dollander to start against the Athletics in the series finale.

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Chase Dollander Takes Advantage of Opportunity in Debut

It was not a good opening homestand for the Rockies. The offense and bullpen continued their struggles in 6-3 and 7-4 losses to the Athletics. But Rockies fans could still look forward to Chase Dollander’s debut on Sunday to potentially salvage the series. The one facet for Colorado that has been consistently good is the starting rotation. Dollander did his part to keep up the solid play. In five innings, he allowed seven hits and four earned runs with an impressive ratio of 6 strikeouts to 1 walk. But the most encouraging part of Dollander’s start was his resolve and focus.

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It would be easy for a young pitcher to feel overwhelmed making their debut at the daunting Coors Field. But Dollander got his first out quickly with a flyout by Lawrence Butler, aided by a nice play by outfielder Mickey Moniak. Brent Rooker followed with a single to left field before Dollander got JJ Bleday to fly out. Dollander had just one out left to get out of the first inning unscathed, but Tyler Soderstrom gave Dollander his welcome to the big leagues moment with a two-run jack to right.

The Rockies struggled mightily with getting out of the first inning unscathed last season. Per TeamRankings.com, the Rockies ranked last by a healthy margin, with 0.75 runs allowed in the first. But Dollander did not get rattled and allow his first inning to turn into a nightmare. He responded by striking out shortstop Jacob Wilson on a 97 MPH four-seam fastball to end the inning. The first moment that showed Dollander might have what it takes to survive at Coors.

You Are Going To Give Up Runs at Coors

The stats will not always be pretty as a pitcher at Coors Field. You can either let that defeat you or accept it, dig down, and keep your team in the ballgame. Fellow starter Kyle Freeland, at his best, has mastered that mindset as a Rockie. He is an ultra-competitive gamer and does not let a bad first inning ruin his start. He knows if he can go five or six innings and allow three to four runs, the Rockies will more often than not score more than that at home.

Dollander followed the first inning with a scoreless second and third. When the A’s rallied again in the fourth and the first two batters reached, it was another moment where the start could have imploded. Miguel Andujar scored on an RBI single but Wilson was thrown out at third. After walking Gio Urshela, Dollander faced runners on first and second with one out. Luckily, Dollander’s start was the first game where the Rockies’ offense gave their pitcher any semblance of a comfortable lead. But the Rockies’ lead sat at 6-3, and the A’s were a homer away from tying the game.

The “Winning” Pitcher

Much like he did in the first after allowing a run, Dollander composed himself and struck out Jhonny Pereda and Max Muncy to end the inning. Dollander let out some emotion when he left the mound after he struck out Muncy on a 99 mph four-seam fastball. Rockies manager Bud Black spoke on Dollander’s performance following the game.

“I thought his stuff was fine, you know, I knew his stuff was going to be in the mid, upper 90s on the fastball,” Black said. “Would he like to do better than five innings and four runs? Probably, and he will, because he’s talented, but he did what he needed to do today to get the win.”

Black went on to emphasize how important that mentality is, particularly for Rockies’ pitchers.

“He did what he needed to do to be the winning pitcher in a Major League game.” “Which is what I stress to all our starters, especially in this ballpark.” Black continued, “This is a tough place to pitch, as you know, but if you are determined, and you have the will to be the starting pitcher in this ballpark, you’re going to be fine.”

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The Rockies Sorely Needed a Solid Debut From Chase Dollander

It is no secret that the Rockies were mired in a slump to begin the season. They are already 5 1/2 games behind the third-place 8-2 San Diego Padres in the top-heavy National League West. Entering Sunday against the Athletics already at 2-7, it felt like a must-win to give any hope to the fan base. Dollander did his part, and the Rockies responded accordingly.

Spotting their young starter with an early 5-2 lead can not be overstated. Dollander did not feel the pressure to be perfect and managed to get out of trouble when he ran into it. But even though he got through five innings and looked to be in line for his first career win, the struggling bullpen would have to pick up the last four innings. Several Rockies starters have already seen stellar starts this season blown immediately by the bullpen. But veteran reliever Jake Bird responded with five consecutive strikeouts in two shutdown innings, tying his record for the most consecutive strikeouts by a Rockies pitcher. Victor Vodnik followed with a scoreless eighth, and the Rockies blew the game open with a five-run bottom of the eighth to secure the 12-5 victory.

If Dollander had allowed the first or fourth innings to get out of hand, it may have felt like another wound in a painful season so far. Instead, he showed the makings of a pitcher that could succeed at Coors Field. A pitcher that represents the good part of picking at the top of the draft each season. Dollander gets to enjoy an off-day tomorrow with his first major league win in hand. It will be intriguing to watch him when he goes for his next one.

 

Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The post Encouraging Debut for Rockies’ Chase Dollander at Coors Field appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.