DENVER – The Rockies placed rookie right-hander Chase Dollander on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness on Thursday – a day before he would have been the probable starter against the Yankees at Coors Field. The move was retroactive to Monday.
Two starts ago, Dollander (2-5, 6.28 ERA in eight starts) turned in the best outing of his young career – two runs on one hit and three walks with seven strikeouts in six innings at Texas on May 12. Dollander threw 98 pitches (59 strikes) in 4 2/3 innings in his last start Sunday at Arizona. He struck out six and allowed one run on three hits but walked two and had the high pitch count.
The announcement came just before Thursday afternoon’s game against the Phillies. The club also announced that reliever Juan Mejia had been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque, but it did not immediately announce a replacement starter for Friday night.
Before the announcement, Dollander, 23, did not reveal that there was a problem. But he said that he has spent time working to become more consistent.
Of his eight starts, Dollander has allowed two runs or fewer in four. In the other four (including a win over the Athletics in his April 6 Major League debut), he has yielded four runs or more.
“It’s a mixture of a bunch of things we’ve looked at,” said Dollander, selected ninth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee. “The coaches and I looked at things like what hitters are looking for and made some adjustments in order for me to add a little bit of success. And on top of that, my routine carried me into knowing that I’m doing everything I can to be ready.
“It’s a little bit of mechanics, trying to get down the mound toward the plate instead of being stuck over my backside. That’s helped a lot. It’s just being more athletic on the mound.”
The Rockies don’t need a setback, given their historic early season struggles. The 8-41 record going into Thursday’s game was the worst in the Majors since 1900 after 49 games. But the team has all along planned to exercise caution with Dollander, who was the club's No. 1 prospect before graduating from its Top 30 recently and is a big part of its pitching future.
Dollander said he wants to grow into a leadership role with the club and the pitching staff. Already, he said, younger players are embracing the mission to learn, improve and eventually win.
“We can’t focus on the past, can’t focus on the future, just be in the present moment,” Dollander said. “You can’t put too much pressure on yourself because things have not gone the way we wanted. We know we’re in the big leagues for a reason, so just go out and show it.”