Colorado Rockies news and links for Wednesday, August 21, 2024
There was once a time that Ryan Rolison was going to be the next big thing for the Colorado Rockies pitching staff. Drafted 22nd overall in 2018 from the University of Mississippi, Rolison was expected to move quickly through the minors and boost the core of pitchers that helped the Rockies reach the playoffs in 2017 and 2018.
After spending most of his first full year of pro ball in High-A in 2019 where he posted a 4.87 ERA in 22 starts and having 2020 wiped out by the pandemic, the timeline got skewed for Rolison, but there was still a chance he could appear by 2022 at the latest. Unfortunately, fate can be quite cruel and the injury bug decided to infect Rolison in 2021 as he dealt with appendicitis and a broken hand which shelved him for the majority of that year.
Plans for Rolison to contribute in 2022 were thrown away as he didn’t throw a competitive pitch that season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery and wiped out his year. 2023 was more of the same as his shoulder was still bothering him and limited him to just 11 innings. While a lot of the shine had worn off on his prospect status, he was still considered a Top 30 prospect for the Rockies as recent as the start of the 2023 season but his stock was rapidly declining.
Due to the injuries and his own age, Rolison dropped off the rankings that he once been at the top of and had to work back from injury in the 2024 season to show that he can still contribute.
It took a while, but Rolison was finally able to return to action in May when he began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League. After a solid, yet brief, stint with the ACL Rockies, Rolison was able to graduate to a rehab stint with the Spokane Indians for a short time, 4 2⁄3 innings to be exact, but while the numbers aren’t the best, he was looking healthy and that’s what’s mattered.
On June 20, Rolison was finally activated from the 60-day injured list and sent to Triple-A Albuquerque, likely setting his sights on finally making the big leagues with the team that drafted him. The Pacific Coast League hasn’t exactly been the kindest to Rolison as it is a difficult league to pitch in, but there are glimpses of hope still for the left-hander. In 20 1⁄3 innings over 14 games, Rolison owns a 6.64 ERA with 19 strikeouts and eight walks. Working in Albuquerque he has mainly worked out the bullpen, going one or two innings the majority of the time.
It’s a peculiar spot to be in as Rolison fights to not only earn a spot on the 40-man roster again but prove that he can still be of some worth to the Rockies. His path can be compared to the progression of fellow former top draft pick Riley Pint.
Struggles on the mound and some injuries plagued Pint throughout his career, including a brief retirement from the sport. Once he returned, he began working in the bullpen where he started to find some success that helped push him to the point where the Rockies felt confident adding him to the 40-man roster. Unfortunately for Pint, his work in the big leagues was limited to 3 2⁄3 innings across two seasons where he posted a 22.09 ERA with seven strikeouts against eight walks. He was recently outrighted to Triple-A.
The Rockies are a team undergoing reconstruction with their roster. A player like Rolison has been leapfrogged by younger, healthier, and arguably more promising talent. The option of starting at the big league level has likely sailed leaving the bullpen as the only viable option. This can work in favor of Rolison as the bullpen is going to be a main focus for the Rockies moving forward into 2025.
Devoid of many lefty options, Rolison could prove to be a reliable middle reliever for the Rockies if he can find more consistency. He has still shown some good stuff on the mound, but run prevention is still a work in progress for Rolison as he discovers what kind of pitcher he can be at this point in his career. Over the final six weeks, it may be worthwhile to give Rolison a look on the mound, even if a few glimpses, to not only do right by a draft pick ravaged by injury but see if there is anything viable to keep around.
Rolison isn’t going to change the Rockies like they had hoped when he was drafted in 2018, but it feels like cracking the big leagues is closer than it has ever been for the young left-hander. While he is likely low on the pecking order, the Rockies should consider giving him a chance before moving on to the other slew of options at their disposal.
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‘Lot of people there to support me’: Jones feeling the love in return | MLB.com
It’s no doubt been a rough year for Nolan Jones as underperformance and injuries have highlighted a disappointing season for a player who burst onto the season a year ago. However, through everything he’s experienced this season, he’s felt nothing but love and support from the Rockies which has been helpful for him.
Affected by Altitude Episode 126: Having a Helton of a Time | FansFirstSportsNetwork.com
In this week’s episode of Affected by Altitude, Evan Lang and I talk about Todd Helton’s weekend celebration at Coors Field and bid farewell to Elias Diaz. We then talk about the youth movement at the big league level including Drew Romo and round things off with a discussion about the new farm system and prospect rankings for the Rockies.
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On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 7, Sugarland Space Cowboys 1
The Isotopes threw out 11 hits as a team, with all but one player getting a hit and three players having multiple hits. Ty Blach started on the hill and went 3 1⁄3 innings, giving up one run on three hits. Ryan Rolison followed him and tossed 2 1⁄3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and a walk while earning the victory. Luis Peralta, who was just promoted to Triple-A made a scoreless debut, bringing him closer to cracking the big leagues.
Double-A: New Hampshire Fishercats 12, Hartford Yard Goats 11 (Completion of June 30th game
Completing a game that was delayed back on June 30th in the first inning due to rain, the two teams convened with two outs in the first inning and played out the rest of the match. Plenty of changes were made in the box score as Carson Palmquist had initially started the game, but was replaced by Connor Van Scoyoc in the resumption. He ended up giving up seven runs in 1 2⁄3 innings but the offense was quite lively. Sterlin Thompson had four hits including a grand slam. Five other players had at least two hits in the contest but they fell just short in the loss.
Double-A: New Hampshire Fishercats 5, Hartford Yard Goats 1 (F/7)
The second game of the day was only for five innings and the Yard Goats got a decent start from Mason Albright despite the loss. He went 5 1⁄3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, running into trouble in the sixth when he was tagged for three runs. The bats mostly when quiet but Adael Amador had two hits, including a double, while driving in the only run. Ronaiker Palma also had three hits in the game.
High-A: Spokane Indians 11, Hillsboro Hops 3
Victor Juarez spun a quality start, going six innings with three runs allowed, and got plenty of offense to back him up. Charlie Condon had his first triple of the year as part of a two-hit, three-RBI night. Only two starters failed to get a hit, but they threw out 12 hits and scored 10 of their runs in the final two innings of the game.
Low-A: Stockton Ports 8, Fresno Grizzlies 3
The Ports rode a five-run third inning to victory as the Grizzlies couldn’t get the big hit on the night. The Grizzlies had seven hits, but they were all singles. Kelvin Hidalgo led the way with two hits in his Fresno debut. The team went more of a bullpen day but it was Kannon Handy who was stung for four unearned runs while getting two outs in the third inning.
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