While attention right now is focused on what the Rockies might do today at the trade deadline, the weekend found a key part of the Rockies future, Chase Dollander, rejoining the Rockies at Coors Field for the homestand.
On May 14, the Rockies’ 2023 first-rounder was lifted in the second inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with what was described at the time as “right arm tightness.” Dollander was then placed on the 15-day injured list while they did further testing.
The following day, he told
the media he’d suffered “just a very minor UCL sprain.” However, rehab didn’t progress as planned, and he underwent internal brace surgery on June 23.
Six weeks later, a smiling Dollander rejoined the team in Denver to give updates on his recovery.
“Mentally, I’m in a great spot,” he said on Friday. “I’m taking it day by day. Obviously, I had surgery on [June] 23rd, so we’ll be six weeks on Monday. Things are chugging right along. [I’ve] got full range of motion back [and] working on strengthening everything up. It’s one of those things you take day-by-day and I’m able to do that.”
Initially, Dollander was hoping to avoid arm surgery. But after multiple discussions with Dr. Keith Meister, it became clear that it was the path forward for the 24-year-old.
“That waiting period was probably the hardest part of it all,” he recalled.
“We were just kind of waiting to see if this thing was going to heal or not, and it didn’t. It’s one of those things where you just were like, ‘OK, what’s going on?’ My body wasn’t… I didn’t feel good mentally. I wasn’t sleeping [well] at night. A lot of things were compounding, and then once I finally got the answer that, ‘Hey, let’s get this thing done,’ I actually slept really [well] that night, which is kind of weird because I had surgery in the next couple days and it’s the best sleep I’d had in a while.”
And throughout his recovery process, Dollander has felt comfort both through journaling and leaning on friends and teammates who have gone through the same process.
“[Rays LHP Shane McClanahan] was probably one of the first guys I told,” Dollander said, “and he was like, ‘Good, get it done. I’m happy you have answers.’ That’s just kind of what his mindset, to me, was. Obviously, he’s been through it multiple times, so he’s a really good guy that I’ve leaned on, and I’m going to continue to lean on throughout this whole process. And obviously [we] have a bunch of guys in this locker room that I can lean on, as well. But yeah, he was happy that I was getting it done. I was going to get it taken care of, and then I was on the road to recovery.”
He’s also leaning on some of his teammates, which is important because the injury rehab process can be very lonely at times.
“There’s unfortunately a lot of guys in rehab in Arizona right now, so it’s not very lonely,” Dollander said. “We have RJ [Petit] and Pierson [Ohl] down there. We have Adam Lasky, Brody Brecht – a bunch of guys that are down there getting after it. And we have a good environment down there. We’re making sure that we’re celebrating the little things that happen, whether a guy starts to throw or a guy starts to run – we’re making sure to celebrate that. So just making sure that each and every guy that’s there knows that they’re cared for.”
Dollander also continued journaling “as soon as I was able to start writing again.”
“Being able to put my thoughts on paper – whether I’m giving myself words of encouragement here and there, or just jotting progress,” he said. “Making sure I’m celebrating the little wins every day, whether it’s, ‘You got to full range of motion today.’ or ‘Hey, you did this new exercise today.’ Just making sure that along the way, I’m not losing sight of the purpose and the why and everything.
“It’s gratitude. It’s a little bit of everything – just a reminder of, like, ‘Hey, you got this far. This is just the beginning. I have a lot more in store, and I know I’m capable of a lot more even before I got hurt,’” he continued. “So that’s what keeps me going. It’s just knowing, ‘Hey, you’ve made progress this year, but it’s nowhere near what you’re capable of.’ So just making sure every day I’m making progress to what I know I’m capable of is very encouraging.”
With an internal brace, the recovery is a lot shorter than full-blown Tommy John surgery. It can be anywhere from 8-12 months, while Tommy John is usually 12-15.
And Dollander assured the media that if all goes well, “I’m going to be ready as soon as the season starts.”
Longtime Rockie Freeland tosses 1st complete game ahead of uncertain Deadline | MLB.com
Yesterday, Kyle Freeland threw his first-career complete game in front of his home crowd. After the game, he told the media what was going through his head through the game and the deadline, and gave an update on where his future may stand with the Rockies organization.
Jack O’Dowd was a bit of a surprising pick-up for the Rockies this offseason, but he has made the most of every moment as he’s rocketed up the Rockies farm system. The 25-year-old started the year in Single-A Fresno, but is now tearing it up in Double-A Hartford. Could he make it all the way up by season’s end?
The Athletic provides updates on the Marlins, Rockies and Dodgers. For the Rox specifically, Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal add Brenton Doyle, Antonio Senzatela and Victor Vodnik to their earlier list that included Kyle Freeland, Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano, Mickey Moniak, Jake McCarthy and Willi Castro.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 10, El Paso Chihuahuas 5
The Isotopes took notes from their Major League counterparts and put an offensive barage on the Chihuahuas (Padres). Every single Isotope had at least one hit except for right fielder Conner Capel, who didn’t even record a walk. The top three in the lineup — Adael Amador, Zac Veen and Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) — went a combined 8-for-14 with seven runs scored, eight RBI, one walk and one strikeout. Chad Stevens also went 2-for-5 with a run, two RBI and a strikeout.
On the pitching side, Valente Bellozo threw 5.2 innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits with one strikeout and a home run.
Double-A: New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Hartford Yard Goats 0
The Yard Goats were not so lucky, as they were shutout by the Fisher Cats (Blue Jays). On the offensive side, Jack O’Dowd went 2-for-4 with a strikeout and Zach Kokoska went 2-for-3. GJ Hill, Aidan Longwell and Cole Messina had the other three hits.
On the pitching side, Connor Staine got roughed up for four runs (three earned) with one walk and six strikeouts across six innings. Jarrod Cande allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits with two walks, and Austin Smith pitched two final scoreless innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
High-A: Vancouver Canadians 14, Spokane Indians 0
The Indians lost by two touchdowns to the Canadians (Blue Jays). They mustered just four hits from Tommy Hopfe, Tevin Tucker, Tanner Thach and Robert Calaz, and struck out nine times. Austin Emener was the only pitcher to escape unscathed, as he pitched the final 0.2 innings with a strikeout. Jordy Vargas gave up just one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts, but things snowballed from there.
Tyler Hampu allowed two runs on three hits with four walks and a homer in 1.1 innings, and Justin Loer gave up three runs on three hits with a walk and a homer. But then most of the damage came against Seth Clausen, who allowed eight runs (five earned) on five hits with one walk and a home run in the eighth inning.
Low-A: Ontario Tower Buzzers 15, Fresno Grizzlies 6
It was a bad day all around, as the Grizzlies got steamrolled by the Tower Buzzers (Dodgers). The at least mustered seven hits, and Landyn Vidourek was the only player with more than one, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI and a strikeout. Sebastian Blanco went 1-for 3, but he notched two RBIs with a walk and a strikeout. The other RBI came from Roynier Hernandez, who went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and a strikeout.
On the pitching side, nobody pitched cleanly. Luichi Casilla gave up three runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts in the first three innings. But then Luke Hansel took the brunt of it, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits with two walks, two strikeouts and two home runs. Wilmis Paulino allowed one run on one hit with four walks and two strikeouts in his two innings, while Yanzel Correa allowed two runs on one hit with four walks and two strikeouts.
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