The right-hander has looked sharp in two MLB games so far
Right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander (No. 1 PuRP) made his highly-anticipated MLB debut on April 6th against the Athletics. The 2023 ninth-overall pick pitched solidly, tossing five innings and allowing four runs (all earned on two home runs) with one walk and six strikeouts in the Colorado Rockies’ 12-5 victory.
Dollander took the ball again on Saturday against the San Diego Padres, throwing another solid game. He pitched into the sixth inning (5 2⁄3 IP), and allowed two runs — both on solo home runs — while issuing two walks and stacking up seven strikeouts. In fact, he became the first starter all year to hold the Padres to three or fewer hits while striking out seven.
But Dollander didn’t let the home runs or the loss bother him.
“When I start getting my breaking balls in the zone, it’s game over,” he said after the game.
“It’s tough for a hitter to respect four pitches at one time, so as soon as that happens, it’s hard for a hitter to put bat on ball. Hitting is hard as it is, but if I’m throwing four pitches for strikes, it’s even harder.”
He’s also already looking ahead to his next start, likely scheduled for Friday against the Washington Nationals.
“Now that I’ve done six [innings], what’s next?” he asked. “7-8-9, there you go. So it’s just a matter of being locked in every pitch and not making mistakes.”
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Now that Dollander has two starts under his belt, he’s had time to reflect on his Major League experience.
“To be honest with you, my whole going out there [for my debut] was to just have fun,” he said on Monday night. “It’s the same game through and through, I’ve done it a million times. That’s what I’m going to take from here on out — just focus on the process and the routines and everything that’s gotten me to this point and keep doing it. None of that changes, obviously. The competition and the stadiums and the atmosphere change, but nothing else.”
When he first got the call that he was heading to Denver, Dollander made sure to call his family first.
“I called my mom, for sure,” he said. “My mom and stepdad, and they were both very very happy. I believe they cried, if I remember listening correctly. I didn’t get to FaceTime them, but I FaceTimed them later and then told my brothers.”
Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Leading up to the game, Dollander kept to his strict routine.
“[My pregame routine] is very extensive,” he said. “It starts probably 3-4 hours before the game. I’ll get to the field, get a quick bite to eat — nothing too heavy because I don’t like to feel too heavy out there — and then I’ll just kind of relax, look over the scouting report, and then get to my actual rolling out and mobility and all that, and then head outside for the game!”
He made sure not to change anything, keeping to his “success checklist.”
“I have everything written down, and I check mark it as I go through just to make sure I’ve done everything and hit everything I needed to hit for me. It brings me confidence going out there knowing that I did everything I can do to be prepared for the start.”
And that goes with some advice he’s gotten from veterans, namely Ryan Feltner.
“[He’s] been huge for me,” Dollander said. “He has a lot to give and I’m definitely excited to learn more from him. But honestly, I can talk to any of these guys, and they’re all going to be super open if I have any questions about anything. It’s been awesome to get to know them.”
Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images
It’s still early in the season, but Dollander has a promising future. Looking ahead, he’s looking forward to continuing to compete at the MLB level.
“You live for this moment; you live for this competition,” he said. “There’s nothing better in this world, in my opinion, than to go out there and face the best hitters.”
As for a hitter he’s looking forward to facing?
“Honestly, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I don’t really look at anybody in the batter’s box. I always say ‘it’s me against execution.’ As long as I execute my game and execute the pitches I need to execute, it doesn’t matter who’s in the box — it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”