The Rockies are dipping into their prospect pool and promoting left-hander Sean Sullivan to hopefully prop up their injury-riddled and wobbling starting rotation.
Sullivan’s call-up on Friday comes with the news that right-hander Chase Dollander, whom the Rockies hope will develop into a No. 1 starter, was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
According to manager Warren Schaeffer, there is a good chance that Dollander will have to undergo Tommy John surgery, which would end his season and set back his progress.
“Itap looking like surgery on the UCL,” Schaeffer told reporters in Las Vegas. “Nothing is set in stone, but thatap the way itap trending.”
Officially, Dollander has a right elbow sprain and is scheduled to be examined by Dr. Keith Meister next Friday. Meister, based in Texas, is an orthopedic surgeon and a specialist in elbow reconstruction. Dollander, out since May 15, will now be on the IL until at least July 15.
Sullivan started on Friday night when the Rockies played the Athletics in Las Vegas.
The 23-year-old left-hander was the Rockies’ second-round pick out of Wake Forest in 2023 when he impressed with a 2.45 ERA over 69 2/3 innings in his final season for the Demon Deacons.
Sullivan is ranked as the Last year, Sullivan thrived against hitters in Single-A and Double-A, posting a 2.94 with a 24.9 strikeout rate over 20 starts.
But his numbers skyrocketed this season, pitching for Triple-A Albuquerque in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has a 5.60 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A with a 20.2% K rate.
The lanky, 6-foot-4 Sullivan is not a flamethrower, but throws from a three-quarters arm slot that adds deception and makes hitters uncomfortable. Although he throws his four-seam fastball 41% of the time, the velocity is just 89 mph. Sullivan mixes in an upper-70s slider with a changeup and a cutter. His changeup is his best pitch, and he has excellent control. He walked just 6% of hitters last season at Single-A and Double-A, while walking 7.7% of hitters pitching for the Isotopes this season.
Sullivan will make his major league debut in the Triple-A stadium in Las Vegas, where he has some experience. The lefty last pitched there on May 19 and got hammered. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on 12 hits while striking out four and walking none.
Rockies starters have a collective ERA of 5.94, easily the worst in the majors. The club has not only lost Dollander to an elbow injury, but also veteran lefty Jose Quintana. Also, right-hander Tanner Gordon recently went on the 15-day injured list with a hip impingement.
Veteran right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano has been Colorado’s best starter, posting a 4.08 ERA. Veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen (7.54 ERA in 15 games, 11 starts) and longtime Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland (7.81 ERA in 11 starts) have been hit hard.
