Rockies announce Opening Day roster with an interesting twist

There were numerous positional battles throughout spring training that were definitely worth watching for the Rockies.

Colorado's biggest need was at first base, and TJ Rumfield earned an Opening Day roster spot with a strong Cactus League performance, alongside Edouard Julien. Utility player Ryan Ritter has also been getting reps at the position recently.

Brett Sullivan had an excellent spring, securing the backup catcher position behind Hunter Goodman, which resulted in Braxton Fulford being sent to Triple-A to start the season with the Isotopes.

Those were some interesting moves, but none were more shocking to the Rockies fan base than the fifth and final rotation spot.

In the previous article, I expressed my personal preference for Chase Dollander as the final pick due to complete bias. However, I also acknowledged that Ryan Feltner would be the more logical choice for the organization at this juncture.

Dollander, the No. 2 prospect for Colorado in 2024, will begin the season in the bullpen.

Colorado might be taking a cautious approach with the fiery right-handed pitcher from Tennessee, given his inconsistent spring training performance following a challenging 2025 season.

Following offseason adjustments to his mechanics, including his arm slot, Dollander had a 6.43 ERA in 14 spring innings. This allows him time to refine his skills in the big leagues, instead of being immediately thrust into high-leverage situations in the minors.

Feltner, conversely, struggled with command, performing no better. He allowed 13 runs in 11.2 innings this spring, giving up 14 hits and 10 walks.

In Feltner's defense, he only made six starts in 2025 due to shoulder and back injuries. It appears Colorado is opting for a pitcher with a more established track record to lead the back end of the rotation until they believe Dollander is ready, or if other rotation members get injured.

Currently, these two pitchers are performing similarly. While they both have impressive strikeout rates, they need to focus on improving their command and reducing the number of walks they give up.

It will be interesting to see what strategy or role they assign to Dollander, especially given Colorado's exploration of the "opener" role for their bullpen this season.