Rockies top prospect Dollander holds his own opposite Verlander

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Chase Dollander's not-long-ago childhood flashed before him when he learned that his Rockies Cactus League debut on Monday would be against the Giants and Justin Verlander.

“Somebody told me he debuted in 2005 -- I was [3] years old at the time,” said Dollander, MLB Pipeline's No. 25 overall prospect.

Well, file Dollander’s two innings of 98 mph fastballs and "Ooh"-inducing breaking balls under the heading of "They sure do grow up quickly these days."

In the bottom of the first inning of the 2-2 tie at Scottsdale Stadium, the 23-year-old Dollander fanned Giants leadoff hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. on three pitches -- the last a curveball that has been the talk of the back fields at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Dollander yielded two hits (including a Jung Hoo Lee homer), struck out three and generally previewed the Rockies’ pitching future.

“It was a little nerve-wracking when I was kind of warming up in the bullpen,” Dollander said. “But once I get in between those lines, it's like I say all the time -- it’s the same game: 60 feet, 6 inches.”

Colorado is nobody’s favorite in the National League West, but days like Monday signal progress. Michael Toglia, who grabbed the first base job last year, parked a solid shot off Verlander for a first-inning homer. Electric outfield prospect Zac Veen, who could force his way onto the roster if he stays healthy, doubled off Verlander and scored on Toglia’s hard single.

And Dollander, who is being given a chance to pitch his way into the rotation, gave the Rockies a preview of a possible impact arm.

In a sense, it was more like games before Dollander’s college career -- which started at Georgia Southern, then moved to Tennessee before the Rockies drafted him ninth overall in 2023. There was no TV or radio broadcast available for Monday's matinee.

“My mom and my stepdad flew out from Augusta, Ga., and they definitely did send out play-by-play [to friends and family],” Dollander said. “I know my girlfriend back home, she was watching the play-by-play on MLB.com and texted me.”

The dude knew what to say to a reporter from MLB.com -- and he knew what to do on the mound.

In the home clubhouse Monday morning, Dollander and non-roster catcher Braxton Fulford -- whose technical polish and pitch-calling have him on the Major League radar -- sat together, relaxed but focused, and went through a scouting report on the Giants. The two played out that scene often last season after Dollander advanced from High-A Spokane to Double-A Hartford.

“It was very similar -- almost exactly like that -- and that’s how he treated it, too,” Fulford said. “Everything with Chase is elite. My focus is getting him in the zone, getting him around the zone and everything is going to take care of itself. It’s almost like playing a video game back there.”

Dollander immediately shook off the “mis-executed” pitch to Lee and set up Matt Chapman to chase a slider. Well, some of the setup was fortuitous. One errant pitch buzzed by Chapman’s helmet, but the ball hit his bat for a foul ball.

“I don’t know if you saw it on camera, but he was actually smiling after that pitch,” Rockies pitching coach Darryl Scott said. “Chase was smiling. Chapman was, as well. But it's, ‘All right, whatever,’ then he came back and made the next pitch.

“Two innings, 37 pitches, six-for-eight first-pitch strikes -- so, really good. We talk a lot about first-pitch strikes, getting ahead. He attacked the zone, worked ahead and did his job.”

The fastball and curve flummoxed hitters. Dollander made little use of his changeup, which helps against lefty batters. But the slider he used to finish off Chapman is an important pitch for Dollander.

Going into his final season at Tennessee, many projected Dollander to be the top pick in the MLB Draft. Wanting his slider to be nastier, Dollander tinkered with it, and it was not as sharp in his final collegiate season. LSU righty Paul Skenes ended up going first overall to the Pirates, then went on to win last season’s National League Rookie of the Year Award.

But Dollander found some keys late last season, and the pitch continues making progress in camp.

“There’s always something to learn,” Dollander said. “For me, today, I thought I did a really good job staying on the attack and executing what I needed to execute. One pitch to Lee, he got. But I’m looking forward to facing them again.”