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Rockies Pitching Prospects to Watch This Spring

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Chase Dollander leads the pack of Rockies pitching prospects worth keeping an eye on this spring as Cactus League action approaches.

The Colorado Rockies had 14 pitching prospects in the team’s last top 30 posted by MLB Pipeline in 2024. Three pitchers appeared in the top 10, led by top-10 pick, RHP Chase Dollander, who ranked second. Dollander and LHP Carson Palmquist are projected to debut next season. LHP Sean Sullivan and RHP Gabriel Hughes are projected to debut in 2026, but will be two of the top Rockies prospects to follow next season. All four will be at spring training.

The Top Rockies Pitching Prospects to Watch This Spring

RHP Chase Dollander (2nd in Rockies Top 30)

Dollander is one of the Rockies pitching prospects gaining the most attention heading into spring training. In the first top-100 ranking of 2025 by MLB.com, Dollander appeared at 25. He and outfielder Charlie Condon (29) were the only Rockies prospects to appear on the list. Drafted 9th overall in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Tennessee, Dollander has high expectations to live up to. He was named the Southeastern Conference pitcher of the year in his sophomore season in 2022.

In his junior season, Dollander threw a 96 MPH fastball that reached 99 MPH and generated a lot of whiffs. He also utilizes a slider in the mid-80s as his second pitch, followed by an effective mid-70s curve and upper-80s changeup, per MLB.com. His command regressed in 2023, causing his fall to the Rockies in the draft. But Dollander has had stellar results in the minor leagues to this point, and he is on the fast track to the major leagues.

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In 14 games at High-A Spokane, Dollander went 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA and a 111/28 K/BB ratio in 70 innings pitched. He only allowed six home runs and posted a 1.257 WHIP, leading to a quick call-up to Double-A Hartford. Dollander was not overwhelmed by the higher competition, performing even better in Double-A. In nine games, he went 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and a 58/19 K/BB ratio in 48 IP. He allowed only one home run, lowered his WHIP to 1.104, and opposing batters hit only .195.

Dollander has lived up to his high draft stock to this point. He has only gotten better as the competition has improved. Based on how he does in spring training, it will likely not be long before he moves up to Triple-A Albuquerque. The hitter-friendly Cactus League will serve as a good litmus test ahead of Coors Field.

LHP Carson Palmquist (14th)

Colorado drafted Palmquist in the 3rd round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Miami. Like Dollander, Palmquist moved past Low-A altogether, beginning at High-A Spokane. In 15 games, he went 7-2 with a 3.73 ERA and a 106/28 K/BB ratio in 70 IP. His fastball averages 90 MPH but can reach 95, and he generates a lot of whiffs with his fastball and mid-70s sweeping slider with a sidearm slot that is difficult for hitters to read.

In 22 games at Double-A, Palmquist went 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA and a stellar 141/42 K/BB ratio in 104 2/3 IP. When he did allow contact, opposing batters struggled, hitting .215. Palmquist struggled in Triple-A Albuquerque. In nine games, he went 1-4 with a 5.86 ERA and a 31/27 K/BB ratio in 35 1/3 IP. He allowed eight homers and opposing batters hit .277.

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The Cactus League is very hitter-friendly and high ERAs and homers are common. However, Albuquerque is good preparation for the altitude that pitchers will face in Colorado. With Palmquist projected to join the Rockies in 2025, he will need to show better command and limit home runs in spring training to stay on that track. While he has started every game in the minor leagues to this point, his arm angle presents doubt about his durability, leading experts to believe he could eventually pitch out of the bullpen at the major league level, per MLB.com.

LHP Sean Sullivan (10th)

Colorado drafted Sullivan in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest University. Sullivan relies on deception more than velocity. His fastball averages just over 90 MPH, and he threw it a whopping 75% of the time at Wake. Per MLB.com, Sullivan misses a lot of bats with his fastball, recording a 36% miss rate in 2023. He also throws a changeup that can miss bats effectively.

Sullivan began in High-A and did not disappoint. In 14 games, he posted a 2.16 ERA with an unbelievable 101/8 K/BB ratio in 83 1/3 IP. Sullivan posted a stellar 0.840 WHIP and limited opposing batters to a .200 batting average. He saw a slight decline across the board when he moved up to Double-A but was still very effective. He did not have the same stellar command in Double-A, issuing seven walks in 32 IP. However, an adjustment period due to the higher level of competition is expected and his numbers were still strong overall. Sullivan’s first full season in the minor leagues could not have gone much better.

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The Rockies are giving Sullivan a chance for some great experience against major league talent this spring. It will be a good barometer for Sullivan ahead of what is expected to be another full season in the minors.

RHP Gabriel Hughes (22nd)

Colorado drafted Hughes 10th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Gonzaga University. At 6’4″, 220 lbs, Hughes has an intimidating presence on the mound. He was the first player taken in the first round from Gonzaga since Marco Gonzales was drafted 19th overall in 2013, per MLB.com. He reached Double-A in his first pro season. But his momentum was stopped when he had to get Tommy John surgery that July.

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Spring training will be his first game action since the injury. His fastball averages 93 MPH but can reach 97. His fastball is followed by a mid-80s slider, upper-70s curve, and 87-88 MPH changeup. He struggled in 2023 across Low-A and Double-A. Including one game with Low-A Fresno in 2022, Hughes has gone 6-5 with a 5.94 ERA and an 84/27 K/BB ratio in 69 2/3 IP. He struggled to avoid bats, allowing 65 hits and opposing batters to hit .238.

However, Hughes has still only played in 14 games at the minor league level. There is a lot of time for him to improve on what he has shown so far. He will begin against high-level competition in spring training. With Hughes not projected to debut until 2026, 2025 will be a great opportunity for him to develop in the minors as he works his way back from Tommy John. Considering where he was drafted, he will be one of the most intriguing pitching prospects to watch in the Rockies system.

Future of Rockies Pitching

Led by Dollander, the Rockies farm system has a lot of pitching potential. Due to injury issues, the Rockies have sorely needed pitching depth the past couple of seasons. They head into next season in a similar situation. The development of these pitching prospects will be integral to the future success of the Rockies. With what they have shown so far, it will be intriguing to follow their progress next season.

 

Photo Credit: © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

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