Colorado Rockies: What are the next steps for Ryan Rolison?

One of Wilson’s biggest messages for Rockies fans heading into 2021? It’s all about tempering expectations when it comes to Rolison and just how fast they will see him on the mound at Coors Field.

“Let’s not forget that he still has some things to do. He still has some experience to gain because he hasn’t pitched a single inning at the higher levels,” Wilson said.

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However, Wilson agreed that there was plenty to be impressed about when it comes to Rolison, and those impressions have built from spring training in Scottsdale to spring training in Denver to the fall instructional league in Arizona. What the Rockies have seen in the University of Mississippi product so far gives hope that Rolison might progress quickly through the minors.

“What is great about Ryan is that he has tremendous aptitude,” Wilson said. “He makes adjustments very quickly. He’s a fantastic strike thrower, and he has a pretty good feel.”

And part of that confidence in his adjustment-making abilities is because of what the Rockies saw from Rolison since the team suddenly had to leave spring training in March.

“I will say he made some great strides this summer and during instructional league on a couple areas of growth for him, which was his changeup, which he is a lot more confident in now, and can use in all sorts of different counts,” Wilson said. “And it’s played up because he also made strides in the area of a fastball with authority to his arm side, and he can really go to his glove side with intent and with command. The glove side has been a work in progress, and he has made a great forward movement with that pitch.”

There is no guarantee that there will be a “normal” minor league season in 2021. With so many uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, there is much still up in the air about what might lie ahead for Colorado’s prospects. However, if the season can be played, where might Rolison start the season?

“It’s easy from a fan perspective to go, ‘He’s our most widely known pitching prospect. When’s he gonna be in the big leagues?’ I think we just have to remember that he has some experience he can gain skill in those upper levels,” Wilson said. “He’s advanced in a lot of ways, which means maybe those upper levels will move a little more quickly for him. Maybe they won’t. We’ll have to see what the path looks like.”

That path, however, could start in a number of places for Rolison following 2021 spring training. However, with the Rockies having a Major League rotation that is seemingly set, there is time for Rolison to progress through the minors and learn.

“As he starts to get those Double-A and Triple-A innings under his belt, it will be important. But I don’t know where he is going to end up after camp next year,” Wilson said. “Could he start at Double-A? Sure, he hasn’t pitched there yet. Could he start in Triple-A because of some of those natural advancements and some of the things he has improved on in those first two years here? Yeah, he might. But I think we just have to temper expectations and know that he still has some things to do and learn.”

Note: This is the second in a series of interviews with Wilson about some of Colorado’s most interesting prospects. Check out his thoughts on Colorado’s 2020 top draft pick Zac Veen here.