Tennessee baseball player named one of the biggest losers in 2023 MLB Draft
Tennessee Vols right handed pitcher Chase Dollander didn't have the 2023 season he envisioned — his ERA went from 2.39 in 2022 to 4.75 in 2023 — but thanks to his upside, the Georgia native was still a top 10 selection in the 2023 MLB Draft. Dollander was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the […]
Tennessee Vols right handed pitcher Chase Dollander didn't have the 2023 season he envisioned — his ERA went from 2.39 in 2022 to 4.75 in 2023 — but thanks to his upside, the Georgia native was still a top 10 selection in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Dollander was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 9 overall selection.
Going in the top 10 is obviously a win for Dollander, but CBS Sports listed the former Vol as one of the biggest "losers" in the 2023 MLB Draft.
And that has nothing to do with Dollander or his abilities. Instead, it has to do with his landing spot. CBS Sports noted that Colorado doesn't exactly have a sterling reputation for developing pitchers.
From CBS Sports: The scouts and analysts who spoke to CBS Sports ahead of the draft harped on how important it was that Dollander landed in the right situation, and with a team that could optimize his considerable arm talent. Only time will tell for sure, but you can forgive us if we're skeptical about the Rockies presenting Dollander with what he needs to become a topline starter. And we're not just typing that because of the difficulties that come with pitching at Coors Field. Fairly or not, the Rockies are viewed around the league as an antiquated organization — one that operates within its own bubble. Whatever they have brewing in that bubble has not helped them convert draft picks into big-league pitchers. They've chosen 26 pitchers in the top three rounds over the last 10 drafts: 16 have yet to (or won't) pitch in the majors, and the others have combined for 29.2 Wins Above Replacement. (And nearly all of those wins are courtesy of two pitchers in particular, in Kyle Freeland and Jon Gray.) Maybe Dollander finds a way to beat the odds, but we fear that we're going to end up wondering what could've been if he had landed with a more modern franchise.
It's true that Denver isn't a pitcher's paradise. And when you combine the hitter friendly confines of Coors Field with the Rockies' reputation for failing to develop pitchers, it's certainly not the best of situations for Dollander.
Of course, who knows if Dollander will even be in the Rockies' organization in a few years. Another team might decide they want to make a deal for the former Vol. It's not uncommon to see highly drafted players involved in blockbuster deals.
I'm sure Dollander is just thankful that he was drafted by an MLB franchise. But I wouldn't blame him if he's secretly hoping he gets traded before reaching the big leagues.
LSU baseball coach makes strong statement about former Tennessee pitcher Chase Dollander
LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson made a strong statement about former Tennessee Vols pitcher Chase Dollander
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
