BOSTON -- When the Rockies called up Chase Dollander on April 6, they did so hoping they were getting their first look at a pitcher who could be a key piece of the rotation for years to come.
While that future remains in play, Colorado will be getting its looks from afar after Dollander was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque prior to Monday's 9-3 series-opening loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. In a corresponding move, right-hander Bradley Blalock was recalled from Albuquerque.
Monday’s move comes just one day after Dollander labored through 3 2/3 innings in a 6-4 win over the White Sox. The 23-year-old former top prospect gave up three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer credited Dollander after the game for “battling” his way to 92 pitches in an attempt to save the bullpen, but didn’t shy away from noting the lack of efficiency.
“He absolutely has things he needs to work on,” Schaeffer said on Monday at Fenway Park. “He needs to work on his efficiency and getting deeper into games and throwing more strikes early in counts. And he knows all this, and it's a good time for him to go down there and work on it.”
Dollander, Colorado’s first pick in the 2023 Draft, made his MLB debut on April 6 against the Athletics. He gave up four runs, including two homers, but notched six strikeouts and had a 62% strike rate. The stuff that led to Dollander going ninth overall in ‘23 is there, he just needs to find ways to eat more innings.
Of Dollander’s 15 big league starts, just seven have been five innings or more. He seemed to be finding his footing at the end of June with three straight starts of at least 5 2/3 innings, including going head-to-head with the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto before a downpour dampened his evening.
While Dollander has a short list of things to work on during his time in the Minors, efficiency is the word Schaeffer kept coming back to.
“I know I keep using it with Chase, but I mean, that is the big word with him, in terms of getting deeper into games, commanding the ball early in the count to get ahead of hitters,” Schaeffer said. “These are all things that we'll be looking at down there.”
Since Dollander pitched on Sunday, his first task with the Isotopes will likely be to throw a side session as he normally would before taking the mound in his next start. Following Monday’s off-day, Albuquerque opens a six-game series at Round Rock on Tuesday, giving Dollander the chance to start on Friday if he goes on regular rest.
A demotion just three months into your Major League career could either prove to be a big ego hit or just what a young player needs. Through his first three months with the Major League club, Dollander has given his manager assurance that he has a good head on his shoulders.
“Chase has a really good mentality,” Schaeffer said. “I just think it's a matter of him executing it on a more consistent basis. I think it's probably always a combination of physical and mental.”