There was a lot of teeth gnashing and fan ranting when the Rockies did not break spring training with prized right-hander Chase Dollander and gifted outfielder Zac Veen on their 26-man roster.
Now, just nine games into Colorado’s season, Dollander is up with the big-league team, making his major league debut on Sunday in Colorado’s 12-5 win over the Athletics. Veen will be officially added to the 26-man roster on Tuesday and likely start in left field against the Brewers at Coors Field.
So, what’s up with the early-season roster shuffle? It’s simpler than you might think. It has nothing to do with delaying the start of the players’ service time clock. It has everything to do with performance or lack thereof.
Yes, the Rockies are in a youth movement, but they want to win, or at the very least, start trending in that direction. Will the Rockies be the 2025 version of the ’24 Royals, a team that improved by 30 games (going 86-76) and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015?
Nope, the Rockies aren’t the Royals. But despite their 2-7 start, the Rockies are confident there will be marked improvement as the season progresses.
Veen was central to the improvement blueprint; the Rockies weren’t sure he was ready on opening day.
The talented but inconsistent and oft-injured No. 8 prospect, drafted in the first round in 2020, needed maturing. When he was left off the 26-man roster, general manager Bill Schmidt and manager Bud Black made it clear that they thought Veen needed minor league seasoning at Triple-A Albuquerque.
“He will go to Triple-A to hone his skills,” Black said near the end of camp. “Zac hit .220 in Triple-A (in 2024), and there are still some things he needs to focus on.
“The strikeout rate was a little high here (29.6%) facing major league pitchers in Arizona. Zac realizes that (there’s) probably a little more time needed in the minors before he potentially gets an opportunity. Hopefully, he’ll force that by how he plays.”
Veen responded to the challenge and was told Sunday that he was being promoted, although the Rockies have not made an official announcement yet. Struggling outfielder Jordan Beck was optioned to Albuquerque on Monday, opening a roster spot for Veen.
Veen hit 5 for 5 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs in Albuquerque’s 14-3 home victory over Salt Lake on Saturday night. In seven Triple-A games, he hit .387 (12 for 31) with a 1.149 OPS that included one homer, four doubles, a triple and one stolen base.
But it’s not simply that Veen sizzled with the Isotopes; it’s that Colorado’s offense desperately needs a spark. Despite putting up 12 runs on Sunday, the Rockies rank 10th in the National League with a .667 OPS, and their 28.% strikeout rate is the second highest in the majors.
Beck, who was starting in left field, is off to a slow start, hitting 3 for 20 (.150), and his strikeout rate is 34.8% after posting a 35.3% rate in 55 games last season. The Rockies like Beck’s glove and his speed on the bases (he has three of the club’s four stolen bases), and they think he will eventually be a big-league hitter. But right now, he’s struggling.
The Rockies believe that Dollander has a chance to be a true ace but would have preferred that the right-hander had a few more starts at Triple-A (he had just one). But lefty Austin Gomber‘s continuing shoulder woes necessitated calling up Dollander. After being scratched from an injury rehab start last Wednesday, Gomber won’t pitch for another three to four weeks. Hence, there is a need to call up Dollander.
In addition to that, Dollander is too talented to stay down on the farm for long.
“He’s got the kind of talent I never had,” Gomber said. “I know that the expectations for him are very high, and from what I’ve seen so far, it’s warranted.”
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
Originally Published:
