Colorado Rockies: Three more bold predictions for the 2021 season

Ryan Rolison will be in the Rockies starting rotation by the end of the season

Ryan Rolison has not pitched in a single professional game above Advanced-A ball nor has he pitched in a professional game outside of spring training in the decade.

In 2019, he spent the season between Single-A Asheville and Advanced-A Lancaster and he combined to go 8-8 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 starts (130 1/3 innings). Between the two levels, he struck out more than a batter an inning and had 2.5 walks per nine innings.

However, I think that he will be in the Rockies rotation by the end of the season.

That will partially be because he will spend some time at the alternate training site and some time at Triple-A Albuquerque but the Rockies will also have a need in the rotation.

That’s because Jon Gray will likely be traded this season and I’m not convinced that Chi Chi Gonzalez, Dereck Rodriguez, or Ryan Castellani will all be in the rotation and/or the bullpen at the same time, if at all. Gonzalez is the most likely to stay in the rotation even with Rolison up but the Rockies will likely have to turn to youth in the majors by the end of the season.

For that, the Rockies will likely turn to to a few different players but for the rotation, it will likely be Rolison.