Rockies Call Up Elite Prospect Making Team History

The Colorado Rockies are calling up one of baseball’s most exciting young arms this weekend. Chase Dollander, a 23-year-old right-hander considered among the best pitching prospects in the game, will make his MLB debut Sunday against the Athletics at Coors Field.

This isn’t just a one-time appearance. Manager Bud Black confirmed Dollander is joining the rotation permanently.

The team shared a heartwarming video of Dollander getting the news of his promotion, showing the young pitcher’s emotional reaction to achieving his dream.

“He’ll be here tonight at some point into Denver. He’ll be here at the ballpark tomorrow,” Black said Friday. “He does a lot of things right for a young player. Long-term he is going to be a really good pitcher. I am looking forward to Sunday.”

Dollander’s rise has been meteoric.

The Rockies drafted him 9th overall just last year out of Tennessee, and he’s already forced his way to the big leagues.

His minor league numbers tell the story. Dollander dominated in 2024 with a 2.59 ERA and 169 strikeouts in just 118 innings between High-A and Double-A. He made his Triple-A debut last Sunday, allowing just one run in four innings.

While his spring training wasn’t pretty (16 runs in 17⅔ innings), the Rockies clearly believe he’s ready for the challenge.

Baseball experts are high on Dollander’s potential. He ranks as the 16th-best prospect in baseball according to CBS Sports, and the fourth-best pitching prospect overall.

Baseball America is even more bullish, ranking him as the 7th best prospect in the game right now.

What makes him special? According to scouts, Dollander features a “stellar fastball-slider combination” that gives him at least mid-rotation potential, even in the challenging environment of Coors Field.

His arrival marks a significant moment for the Rockies organization. Dollander is the first Rockies pitcher to crack Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list since Jon Gray (2014-16), and only the second ever to rank in their top 10. Lefty Franklin Morales was their No. 8 prospect back in 2008.

The timing makes sense for Colorado. Off days early in the season allowed them to skip their fifth starter initially, but now they need to fill that spot.

Surprisingly, the Rockies’ rotation has been brilliant so far, posting a 1.35 ERA—the lowest in baseball. Their 1.23 WHIP is more middle-of-the-pack, suggesting they’ve been lucky stranding runners, something that rarely holds up over a full season.

Despite that strong pitching, Colorado has struggled out of the gate with a 1-5 record, being outscored 24-11 by opponents.

They’ll play their home opener Friday at Coors Field against the same A’s team that Dollander will face in his debut on Sunday.