There will be more tough starts for Colorado star Chase Dollander

Being a rookie isn’t easy. In fact, at times, it can be downright hard.

And if Colorado’s Chase Dollander makes the Colorado Rockies’ big-league club for opening day, he’ll have more days like he had on Saturday at Salt River Fields.

Making his second Cactus League start of 2025, Dollander had a rough three innings, allowing four runs on three hits, while surrendering a pair of bombs to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rockies would eventually fall to the rival D-Backs 8-4, and Dollander would take the loss.

Of course, Saturday’s stat line doesn’t detract from Dollander’s enormous talent, nor his electric stuff. And despite the difficult outing, that stuff was on display against Arizona as he struck out four in three innings of work, and was hitting 90-plus on the radar gun routinely.

So, Saturday’s outing was a mixed bag for Dollander, and, given that he’s just 23 years old, there will be more starts like that ahead. That’s the life of a big-league pitcher, and make no mistake, Dollander is headed for the show, and when he gets there, he’ll end up being a star. So, while there will be growing pains, and Rockies’ fans should exercise some patience when it comes to their pitching phenom, Saturday’s start means very little as it relates to the future for the former Tennessee standout.

Saturday’s game, despite the final score also featured plenty of shinging moments for the Rockies. 

Kris Bryant collected his second hit of the spring, a double. Young standouts Jordan Beck, Adeal Amador and Zac Veen were excellent at the plate, and veteran starters Brenton Doyle, Ryan McMahon and Nolan Jones all made the most out of their at-bats. Newly-Aquired second basemen Thairo Estrada also continues to impress.

Continuing the trend, the Rockies are also loving the offense thus far, as they gathered 12 hits on the day, though they did strand nine runners in scoring position.

Still, the day was about Dollander. He showed flashes of brilliance and also displayed flashes of having to go through what every young starting pitchers goes through — ups and downs. And nothing illistrates that more then the 444-foot, three-run blast he surrendered to Eugenio Suarez in the first inning, only to come back and fan Suarez the very next time he faced him.

That’s the life of a young starting pitcher, and the Rockies have a special one in Dollander. 

The Rockies (6-3) play the Seattle Mariners Sunday at 1:10 p.m. back at Salt River Fields.