LSU baseball coach makes strong statement about former Tennessee pitcher Chase Dollander
Former Tennessee Vols right handed pitcher Chase Dollander was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 9 overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday night. Dollander, the 2022 SEC pitcher of the year, is coming off a "down" 2023 season in which he finished with a 4.75 ERA in 17 starts (the […]
Former Tennessee Vols right handed pitcher Chase Dollander was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 9 overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday night.
Dollander, the 2022 SEC pitcher of the year, is coming off a "down" 2023 season in which he finished with a 4.75 ERA in 17 starts (the Georgia native had a 2.39 ERA in 2022).
Despite the down season, MLB scouts love Dollander's potential.
And so does LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson.
Johnson, who took over as LSU's head coach in 2022, faced Dollander twice over the last two seasons. Dollander gave up just three earned runs across his two starts against the Tigers.
On Sunday, Johnson joined MLB Network's coverage of the 2023 MLB Draft. And he left no doubt how he feels about Dollander and his MLB future.
"This guy's special," said Johnson after Dollander was drafted by the Rockies. "You definitely want to take him (in the draft). I think it's a quick trip to the big leagues for Chase. Fastball's up to 99 and he does it easy. When he does it easy like that, it's really hard to differentiate between pitches. He's got a ton of deception and a great arm."
I'm sure Dollander is hoping that Johnson is correct — a quick trip to the big leagues is what every player that's drafted on Sunday night will be hoping for.
Dollander, by the way, should be well equipped to pitch in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field after spending the last two seasons pitching in hitter-friendly Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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