Former Tennessee baseball pitcher has been dominant on the mound in Double-A

Tennessee baseball pitcher Chase Dollander has been dealing in his first full season as a professional baseball player. The Colorado Rockies drafted the former Vols gunslinger in the 2023 MLB Draft with the No. 9 overall pick, and he hasn't looked back since making his debut. 

Dollander played with the Rockies' rookie team in 2023 before being promoted to Single-A at the start of the 2024 season. He spent nearly four months with the Rockies' Single-A team before getting the call to Double-A, where he has continued to dominate on the mound. 

He pitched seven shutout innings on Friday for the Rockies' Double-A team, the Hartford Yard Goats, and has been one of the most consistent pitchers on the staff since arriving in late July. 

Dollander has pitched in five games for the Yard Goats since late July and has earned a 1-0 record with a 1.37 ERA and 28 strikeouts. He's been lights out, only allowing four runs over 26.1 innings pitched. 

The dominance didn't start in July. Dollander had a 4-1 record in Single-A with a 2.83 ERA before being promoted. He's also recorded 134 strikeouts in 92.1 innings since he started the 2024 season. 

With only four weeks remaining in the Double-A season, Dollander likely won't receive another promotion before the end of this season. 

With the 2024 season nearing its end, Dollander is the No. 2 ranked Rockies prospect and No. 23 ranked prospect across the minor leagues. He joins VFL Jordan Beck as one of the top three prospects in the Rockies' minor league system. 

If Dollander continues to impress, we could see Dollander join Beck in Denver next year as a one-two punch from Rocky Top to the Rocky Mountains.