Chase Dollander: Rockies 2024 Minor League Player Of The Year
In righthander Chase Dollander, the Rockies are developing a rare commodity: a potential No. 1 starter.
“That’s what you’re building here,” Rockies farm director Chris Forbes said. “You’re building an ace. You’re not trying to be satisfied with this guy breaking in in the fifth spot in the rotation.
“This truly has the makings of a top-of-the-rotation starter.”
The 22-year-old Dollander didn’t pitch in a game last year after the Rockies drafted him ninth overall out of Tennessee. He began his pro career this season at High-A Spokane before advancing to Double-A Hartford on July 24.
With a four-seam fastball that averages 96 mph and has touched 100, Dollander often blew the ball by hitters. Opponents hit just .215 and connected for just seven home runs in 23 starts.
He recorded a 2.59 ERA with 169 strikeouts and 47 walks in 118 innings. Just three minor league pitchers fanned more hitters than Dollander did.
While Dollander breezed through Eastern League competition in nine starts, he had to use his entire pitch mix more at Double-A than he had at High-A. That included a slider and changeup that are both thrown in the high 80s as well as a high-70s curveball.
Dollander’s slider is his best secondary pitch, though all four of his offerings show plus potential.
That Dollander performed better at the higher level is “a testament to him and his readiness,” Forbes said. “He’s taken everything in digestible chunks. He’s not trying to sprint his way to the big leagues right now. He knows what he’s trying to work on.
“He really wanted to focus on the efficiency, learning how to finish hitters. Sprint to two strikes, and then finish the guy.”
Dollander hit 14 batters this year, not because he lacks control but because he likes to pitch inside and work both sides of the plate. He’ll likely be in big league camp next spring. And a major league debut in 2025 is quite possible.
“He’s on a fast track, and his stuff is electric,” Rockies assistant farm director Jesse Stender said. “He’s not far off.”
ROCKY ROADS
— Righthander Gabriel Hughes will pitch in the Arizona Fall League, where he will be closely monitored. Hughes, 23, missed the entire 2024 season after having Tommy John surgery in July 2023. The Rockies drafted him 10th overall in 2022 out of Gonzaga. He went a combined 6-5, 6.21 in 14 starts totaling 66.2 innings with High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford in 2023, averaged 11.2 strikeouts and 3.5 walks per nine innings and last pitched on July 9 of that season.
— Lefthanded reliever Konnor Eaton, drafted in the sixth round this year out of George Mason, was with High-A Spokane for the Northwest League playoffs after being promoted from Low-A Fresno during the final series of the season. In eight games with Fresno, Eaton, 21, put up a 1.00 ERA with one walk and 12 strikeouts in nine innings. He made one scoreless two-inning appearance with Spokane—which took home the NWL crown—while walking two and striking out four.
