Chase Dollander being sent down signals the Rockies aren't ready to gamble 2025 success on youth

If there’s been a player with the most question marks surrounding him in the Colorado Rockies’ big-league camp this spring, it’s pitching sensation Chase Dollander.

On Saturday, those questions, for now at least, were answered.

With less then a week of Cactus League play remaining, the Rockies announced on Saturday that Dollander, the No. 25 propsect in all of baseball, will start the season at AAA Albuquerque. Dollander was assigned to the minor leagues on Saturday, along with fellow propsect Jaden Hill, who was battling for a spot in Collorado’s bullpen. 

Saturday’s announcement ended almost two months of speculation about Dollander’s immediate future. The 23-year-old, former No. 9 overall pick of the Rockies, Dollander had started five games this spring with a 2-2 record and a 5.65 ERA. In 14 innings, his incredible stuff managed to strike out 18, but in the end, the Rockies felt AAA was the place for Dollander to continue his development for the time being.

“This is the first time that anybody’s ever said, ‘You’re not ready yet,” Dollander said Saturday per MLB.com. “In my head, obviously, I know my stuff plays. It’s just a matter of controlling the controllables -- execute, focus on that kind of stuff.”

Dollander had been vying for a spot in Colorado’s rotation, which includes opening-day starter Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Ryan Feltner, Antonio Senzatela and Austin Gomber. And while those five veterans are likley to man the rotation for this season, Gomber is starting off the year injured, which led to rumors that Dollander could make the opening-day roster as the fifth starter. Instead, he’ll be the ace for the Isotopes, where he’ll get quality starts against good hitters.

“I’ve learned what it’s like to pitch in the big leagues, and obviously not give hitters too much credit,” said Dollander to MLB.com. “My stuff plays, it’s going to play and it’s going to keep playing. I’m just going to continuously get better.”

The Rockies certainly believe that Dollander will get better and better, and while their farm system has many young talents being groomed to be stars for a franchise that has struggled to establish many, those stars just don’t appear to be ready yet. That much is obvious since Dollander, as well as Adeal Amador, Lucas Gilbreath, Drew Romo and Yanquiel Fernandez, among others, have now all been reassigned. 

So for now, a young Colorado Rockies’ opening day roster won’t get any younger with Dollander and others starting out in AAA and lower. Instead, the Rockies feel those propspects time in the bigs is not now. 

Only time will tell if the more veteran group that will play in the major leagues this season, and keeping players like Dollander and Amador down in the minors a little lonnger will pay off. Or, perhaps the Rockies’ brass will find out that, promoting many of their top prospects who feel they can hang at the big-league level, is a gamble they should take.

Again, we shall see. For now though, what Rockies’ fans won’t get to see is Dollander pitching in Coors Field. The wait to see that will go on for at least a little while longer.

Dollander is expected to get one more spring start on Sunday as the Rockies (17-12) take on the Brewers at 2:10 p.m. M.D.T.

Extra Notes: The Rockies played split squad games on Saturday afternoon. The Rockies beat the Cubs 7-4, with Michael Toglia hitting two homers, while Hunter Goodman and Sean Hillard homered as well. Colorado also beat the White Sox 10-4, with Kyle Freeland getting the win on the mound in his last start before opening day, while Jordan Beck hit his fourth homer of the spring.