Chase Dollander made his much-anticipated debut with the Rockies on Sunday afternoon, permitting seven hits and 4 runs over 5 innings and incomes his first massive league win. Ranked no. 12 on our High 100 Prospects checklist this spring, the 23-year-old right-hander fanned six, walked one, and surrendered a pair of dwelling runs as Colorado outscored the Athletics 12-5 at Coors Area.
His energy arsenal was on show all through. Topping out at 99.3 mph together with his high-octane heater, the 2023 first-round select of the College of Tennessee threw 34 four-seamers, 21 sliders (which Baseball Savant classifies as a cutter), 15 curveballs, and 9 changeups. Undaunted by a premiere within the majors’ most hitter-friendly venue, he aggressively attacked the zone, throwing 49 of his 79 pitches (62.%) for strikes.
Dollander mentioned his repertoire previous to the beginning of the common season.
———
David Laurila: Scouting stories say you will have a plus fastball, good secondaries, and that you just normally command the ball properly. Does that sound correct?
Chase Dollander: “I’d say so. I really feel like my stuff is in a great spot proper now. I do assume that getting the slider somewhat more durable and somewhat shorter could be good for me. However aside from that, yeah, I really feel like my stuff is in a great spot.”
Laurila: Do you establish as an influence pitcher?
Dollander: “I suppose so. Like, what’s your definition of an influence pitcher? That might change primarily based on the individual. However I do strike out a very good bit of individuals, and that’s thought of an influence pitcher. So yeah, in my view, I in all probability am.”
Laurila: How do you usually get your strikeouts? Do you will have a particular strikeout pitch?
Dollander: “It’s a mix, and it actually will depend on the state of affairs. Such as you mentioned, my stuff is fairly good, so I really feel like I can use no matter I have to strike folks out. But when I had been to select one, it might be my fastball on the high of the zone. I believe that’s the one pitch that actually performs. It’s my bread and butter. If I would like it, I’ve it.”
Laurila: What are the metrics in your four-seamer?
Dollander: “I don’t have a loopy quantity of vert on it. My arm angle and my VAA [vertical approach angle] sort of make it play higher on the high of the zone. I’ve a decrease arm slot. Nevertheless it sits wherever from… I’d say that ideally it might be 15 to 17 vert and rather less horizontal. It sort of shoots off arm facet; it has two-plane motion. Typically if I sort of get it down within the zone it is going to run on me somewhat bit extra. However normally, if I sit within the center or high of the zone, it is going to journey right into a righty like I would like.
“I didn’t know something about [the VAA] till my junior 12 months of faculty. I simply knew I used to be capable of throw fastballs by folks. It was like, ‘I don’t actually know what’s happening, nevertheless it’s working, so I’m going to maintain doing this.’”
Laurila: You mentioned that you just’d prefer to throw your slider somewhat more durable and shorter. Why is that?
Dollander: “I really feel like it might play higher off the fastball than an even bigger one. I have already got an enormous curveball that’s about 20 mph completely different from my fastball. I really feel like it might play higher off the changeup as properly. I’ve talked to D Scott [pitching coach Darryl Scott] about it somewhat bit, and we’re on the identical web page. I can manipulate the ball, so if there’s a sure state of affairs that dictates an even bigger slider, I can try this.”
Laurila: You possibly can manipulate shapes fairly properly…
Dollander: “Yeah, I believe I’ve good really feel for that. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to develop extra, although. As a pitcher, you’re aways making an attempt to develop really feel on your pitches, regardless of how lengthy you’re within the sport. It’s at all times about tinkering and determining what works.”
Laurila: Ideally, you’d like extra of a gyro slider…
Dollander: “I don’t know. The slider I’ve proper now’s working, so I don’t need to mess with it an excessive amount of. Truthfully… perhaps extra of a gyro. It’s been in an ideal spot, and I’m pleased with it, however I do assume if it’s somewhat more durable it might play higher. I’d in all probability get extra swings and misses.”
Laurila: To throw it more durable, you’d presumably be altering the grip…
Dollander: “Only a tiny bit. So, normally the primary couple innings my slider could be very cutter-y, so I put somewhat spike to it to assist me get out in entrance, and sort of get on high of the ball somewhat bit. Clearly, for those who put somewhat spike, it’s going to kill somewhat velo. So, it’s nearly discovering the texture for it early and never having to spike it.”
Laurila: You mentioned that your curveball is 20 mph slower than your fastball. Is that an excessive amount of?
Dollander: “I don’t assume so. I believe it performs fairly properly off my fastball up within the zone. I get a very good little bit of swing-and-miss on it. It’s arduous for folks to to be prepared for a fastball, and right here comes 78-79. The depth performs properly off of my fastball, too. Typically my curve has somewhat extra sweep to it, however the ultimate ones have loads of vertical.”
Laurila: The place does that changeup slot in your arsenal?
Dollander: “It performs properly off my slider. The most effective ones are wherever from zero to 2, with round 20 horizontal. It’s been actually good. When it creeps up into the upper verts is when it sort of will get in bother, as a result of it carries somewhat bit extra. Having the ability to kill vert, and perhaps kill somewhat little bit of horizontal as properly, makes it play.
“The grip is sort of a modified circle. My center finger is in between the two-seam, fully off the seams. I found out — I had some assist with this over the offseason — that at any time when my fingers had been on the seams, it might sort of catch the seam and backspin somewhat bit greater than I needed it to. If I’m off the seam, I’m capable of simply throw it. It has a circle on high, and drops.”
Laurila: Who helped you with it?
Dollander: “Shane McClanahan, the lefty with the Rays. He arguably has probably the greatest changeups within the sport. It’s completely different than mine, although. It’s comparable in some methods, however his is extra like a modified cut up.
“We had been enjoying catch — I work out with him in the course of the offseason — and he was identical to, ‘Dude, get off the seam.’ I attempted it, and it simply took off, straight down. It was like, ‘OK, that’ll work.”
Laurila: How would you rank your pitches?
Dollander: “Proper now, it might be fastball, curveball, slider, changeup. My curveball has been enjoying rather well for me. I’m excited to see what comes together with the slider and the changeup.”
Laurila: What in regards to the problem of pitching in Colorado? Is there something about your toolbox which may offer you a bonus at Coors?
Dollander: “I’m undecided. Clearly, we’ll should see as soon as I get there, however I believe that having a low vertical strategy angle with my fastball goes to play rather well. I don’t should depend on a bunch of vertical — induced vertical — to get swings and misses on my fastball. Having that in my again pocket is hopefully going to assist me so much, pitching on the high of the zone. Pitching in altitude, the ball clearly flies somewhat bit extra, however that’s not one thing I’m frightened about. Like I at all times say, if I execute my pitches, I’ll be simply tremendous.”