The Rockies went pitching heavy this year, grabbing arms with six of their first eight picks and 14/21 overall. They started it off with Chase Dollander, who entered the season the consensus top pitching prospect in the country, and continued on through a group with widely varying profiles. Cole Carrigg is perhaps the most interesting as a freak athlete/super utility man with an extreme profile, and as you get into the middle rounds the arm strength starts to pick up with the pitchers with a few guys pushing for triple digits.
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Note that the number before a player's name indicates their draft position. "2-50" would indicate that a player was drafted in the second round with the fiftieth overall pick.
1-9: RHP Chase Dollander, Tennessee {video}
Slot value: $5.72 million. Signing bonus: $5.72 million.
My rank: #14. MLB Pipeline: #9. Baseball America: #6. Prospects Live: #14.
If you told the Rockies they would have a chance to draft Chase Dollander this year before the season began, they wouldn't have believed you. Originally a Georgia Southern Eagle, he transferred to Tennessee for his sophomore season and put together a magnificent 2022 with a 2.39 ERA and a 108/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 innings. At that point, he established himself as the consensus best pitcher in the draft, ahead of even Paul Skenes on virtually all boards. However, his 2023 was frustrating on many levels, and he finished with a 4.75 ERA and a 120/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 89 innings, though it's important to note that he played in a hitter-friendly home park and offense was up across college baseball. Still, Chase Dollander is such a good pitcher that even after a tough season, he remains an elite prospect. The fastball sits in the mid 90's, touching 99 with flat plane and carry. The life on the pitch was a bit more explosive in 2022, though it's still clean fuego as is. The fastball has always been the main attraction, but he also throws two distinct breaking balls led by a plus sweeping slider and a more traditional vertical curveball. The Augusta-area native rounds out his arsenal with an above average changeup, giving him four potentially above average or better pitches. In 2022, he showed plus command to all four quadrants of the zone, though that slipped to "merely" above average in 2023 as he got hit over the plate a little more. Dollander is a great athlete with a projectable 6'2" frame, getting deep down the mound, repeating his delivery extremely well, and maintaining his stuff deep into starts. So let's take a step back. Even on his worst days, it's a great profile: a flat mid 90's fastball, three average or better secondaries, and at least average command from an athletic frame. At his best, we're talking about an explosive riding fastball touching the upper 90's, a pair of wicked breaking balls, and an above average changeup, all of which he can command with precision. Dollander is still a potential ace and has a nice floor as a #3/#4 starter.
2-46: LHP Sean Sullivan, Wake Forest {video}
Slot value: $1.87 million. Signing bonus: $1.7 million ($168,400 below slot value).
My rank: #78. MLB Pipeline: #123. Baseball America: #77. Prospects Live: #64.
Sean Sullivan has one of the most unique profiles in this year's draft class, though ironically he's a very similar pick to last year's Rockies third rounder Carson Palmquist. Originally a Northwestern Wildcat, he transferred to Wake Forest this year and put together a fantastic season, posting a 2.87 ERA and a 90/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 59.2 innings, like Chase Dollander playing in a hitter-friendly home park. Sullivan's fastball only sits around 90 and tops out around 94, which in today's day and age is pretty unimpressive, but it plays way, way above its velocity because it has an elite combination of flat plane and riding action. Hitters whiffed at the pitch like he was throwing upper 90's, looking hopeless when he located it up in the zone. He adds a sweepy slider that looks average, playing well off his fastball when he locates it, and his changeup could be an above average pitch with nice fading action. The story, though, is the fastball, and the Rockies will try to add a tick or two of velocity to ensure it plays against pro hitters. From there, helping his offspeed stuff take a step forward could make him a mid rotation starter. The 6'4" lefty is still projectable, and his athleticism is apparent in his sidearm delivery with great separation. It's not unlikely that he'll add that velocity, and his athleticism also enables him to pound the strike zone with above average command, rarely throwing an uncompetitive pitch. He's only thrown three appearances, but he has looked elite with four no-hit innings, allowing just one walk against ten strikeouts.
CBB-65: C Cole Carrigg, San Diego State {video}
Slot value: $1.18 million. Signing bonus: $1.3 million ($115,900 above slot value).
My rank: #104. MLB Pipeline: #47. Baseball America: #89. Prospects Live: #122.
If Sean Sullivan brings a unique pitching profile, Cole Carrigg brings an equally unique position player profile. He was one guy that many data-oriented prospect lists soured on this spring, my own included, and in hindsight I regret that a bit and wish I didn't drop him from my top one hundred. Carrigg hit .388 as a sophomore, pushing his name into the fringes of the first round conversation, but took a slight step back in 2023 and slashed .313/.367/.473 with two home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a 22/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 41 games. At the plate, he shows plus bat to ball skills with the ability to get to balls all over and outside of the zone, utilizing a line drive approach where he shoots the ball into the gaps and lets his wheels do the rest. He's extremely aggressive at the plate, chasing a third of pitches out of the zone for the highest chase rate on my entire draft board, so the overall hit tool may even out to above average rather than plus, and either way he rarely ever walks with just a 5.2% free pass rate in 2023. In the power deparment, Carrigg isn't offering much. The exit velocities are squarely below average and he doesn't look to lift the ball, with just seven career home runs in 132 games despite playing in a hitter-friendly Mountain West Conference and in a 2023 season that saw increased offense around college baseball. So in all, we're looking at an aggressive bat to ball-oriented bat that can hit for a high average, with power and walks likely not to be a big part of his game. It's a truly old school offensive profile. Meanwhile, the defense might be even more interesting. The Central Valley native is one of the best athletes in the entire class, bar none, and that athleticism shines in a big way through his versatility. Last year on the Cape alone, he appeared on the mound, behind the plate, at second base, shortstop, and third base, and in both center and right fields. It wasn't just a gimmick, either – Carrigg can really handle all those positions. He's already appeared at catcher, shortstop, and center field in the Rockies organization and could be an Alfredo Amezaga, Brandon Inge-like super utility man, except Amezaga couldn't catch and Inge wasn't cut out for shortstop. Carrigg is a plus runner so his range plays everywhere, while his plus-plus arm was evident at the MLB Draft Combine where he hit triple digits on throws from the outfield. If Carrigg can find a way to add some power and cut down on his chases, he has a shot to be a star. Upon looking back into this profile, I do regret getting so caught up in his chase rates and low exit velocities and letting him fall to #104 on my board. He's off to a red hot start, slashing .359/.415/.626 with five home runs, thirteen stolen bases, and a 32/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 33 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Fresno. Interestingly enough in those 33 games, he has already far surpassed his home run (2), strikeout (22), and walk (9) totals that he put up in 41 games at San Diego State.
3-77: RHP Jack Mahoney, South Carolina {video}
Slot value: $930,600. Signing bonus: $925,000 ($5,600 below slot value).
My rank: #154. MLB Pipeline: #120. Baseball America: #176. Prospects Live: #85.
Jack Mahoney gives the Rockies a pretty straightforward back-end starting pitching prospect. After missing 2022 with Tommy John surgery, he returned strong in 2023 with a 4.16 ERA and an 84/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 84.1 innings, proving to be one of the more consistent starting pitchers in the SEC outside of the big names. He has plenty of arm strength, with a low to mid 90's fastball that touches 97 with running action. His downer slider looks like an above average pitch with late, bat missing bite, while his changeup gives him a third usable pitch. Mahoney has short arm action and hides the ball well, repeating his simple delivery well for above average command to make everything play up. With a sturdy 6'3" frame, the Chicago-area native has all the ingredients necessary to become a #4 starter. Of note, he's on the older side for the class and turned 22 a month after the draft, but he shouldn't need too much development to get to the bigs. In two innings in the Arizona Complex League, he allowed two runs on three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
4-109: LHP Isaiah Coupet, Ohio State {video}
Slot value: $615,500. Signing bonus: $600,000 ($15,500 below slot value).
My rank: #123. MLB Pipeline: #189. Baseball America: #164. Prospects Live: #92.
While Jack Mahoney's profile is straightforward, Isaiah Coupet is a little more unusual. He's coming off a strong season at Ohio State where he posted a 3.55 ERA and a 72/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 50.2 innings, and also showed well in the Cape Cod League last summer. He sits around 90 with his fastball and touches 94 at peak, but the heater isn't the draw here. Instead, Coupet can spin a breaking ball with the best of them. His slider and curveball are both distinct breakers with their own movement profiles and both grade out as plus, making for a very unique look as a hitter. On the surface, it looks like a relief profile. The 6'1" lefty has a bit of a stiff delivery that relies heavily on his drive from the rubber and he doesn't have much of a changeup at this point. However, he has maintained his stuff and command deep into starts, so if the Rockies can find a way to help him add a tick or two of velocity and get that changeup moving along, he could be a back-end starter. The floor here is still very nice as a junkballing lefty reliever that could be a nightmare from a matchup perspective. He's also extremely young for a college junior, over a year younger than Mahoney and not set to turn 21 until the end of September. In 3.1 innings between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Fresno, he has yet to allow a run and has struck out five against one walk.
5-145: 3B Kyle Karros, UCLA {video}
Slot value: $433,500. Signing bonus: $433,500.
My rank: #148. MLB Pipeline: #136. Baseball America: #103. Prospects Live: #175.
Kyle Karros has baseball in his bloodlines. His father, Eric, starred at UCLA and twelve years with the Dodgers, while his brother, Jared, also starred at UCLA and is currently in the Dodgers' minor league system. Kyle was the third Karros to star at UCLA, but he'll head across the Rocky Mountains to Colorado as a pro, at least keeping the NL West a family affair. He was a breakout pick after a big sophomore year in 2022, and after coming out of the gates hot in 2023, he began to push his name into top three round territory. However, he slumped hard in Pac-12 play and finished the season with a pedestrian .284/.372/.420 slash line, five home runs, and a 35/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 44 games. In addition to his in-conference struggles (.193/.277/.273 in 23 games), he didn't hit well on the Cape either (.157/.279/.157 in 18 games), calling into question his ability to provide impact against advanced pitching. Still, the Rockies love his upside. Karros stands 6'5" with long arms and legs, and given that he didn't turn 21 until after the draft, he's as projectable as they come for a college hitter. Like many Bruins, he employs a contact-oriented approach from the right side, looking to use the whole field and showing solid contact rates. That approach does sap his power a bit, with below average exit velocities that point to below average game power, but given his size and frame he should be able to get to at least average with a different approach. He has become more disciplined as a hitter during his time in Westwood, but his chase rates still remain a bit elevated especially against quality stuff. Overall, it's a bit of a confounding offensive profile that the Rockies may have to get creative to put together. Defensively, Karros shows great body control at third base lending confidence that he'll stick there despite his lanky frame and below average speed, with a plus arm to round out the profile. That defensive aptitude certainly won't hurt him as he works to find his identity as a hitter. So far, he's slashing .288/.401/.339 with a 23/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 33 games between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Fresno, though the numbers did dip after his promotion to the latter.
6-172: RHP Cade Denton, Oral Roberts {video}
Slot value: $336,700. Signing bonus: $500,000 ($163,300 above slot value).
My rank: #149. MLB Pipeline: #184. Baseball America: #203. Prospects Live: #160.
Ranking right next to Kyle Karros on my draft board, Cade Denton is a fun one. He has been untouchable the last two seasons at Oral Roberts, combining for a 1.25 ERA and a 141/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 107.2 innings out of the Golden Eagles bullpen. Denton is a high octane arm with a low to mid 90's fastball that can reach 99 in short stints, coming in with flat plane from a lower slot with running and sinking action when he wants it. His short, hard slider flashes plus and gives him a wicked one-two punch, while his changeup is a distant third pitch at this point. The 6'3" righty pounds the strike zone with a simple, athletic delivery and has controlled at bats from start to finish in Tulsa, and he may actually be able to transition to starting if the Rockies go that route. In that case, he would have to prove he can continue to repeat his delivery deep into starts while also bringing that changeup along, but he has the arm strength and projectable frame to get it done. If he stays in the bullpen, which is ultimately more likely, his fastball/slider combination will be deadly with his solid command. He could move quickly in that role. So far, he has a 4.66 ERA and a 12/1 strikeout to walk ratio over 9.2 innings between the Arizona Complex League and Low A Fresno.
7-202: RHP Seth Halvorsen, Tennessee {video}
Slot value: $263,200. Signing bonus: $200,000 ($63,200 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: #253.
Seth Halvorsen has been around a long time. Known for his arm strength as a prep in the 2018 class, he began his college career at Missouri but between Tommy John surgery, command problems, duties as a hitter, and the pandemic, he never put it together for the Tigers. After four years in Columbia, in which he only really pitched in one save for 5.1 innings as a freshman in 2019, he transferred to Tennessee and put together his best season yet with a 3.81 ERA and a 52/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 52 innings. He's another high octane arm, showing a mid 90's fastball that can hit triple digits at best with riding life. He shows a hard slider and a new and improved splitter, together making for a tough three pitch mix with everything coming in hard. The 6'2" righty has significantly improved his control in Knoxville to the point where he can get ahead in counts and help his stuff play up, though he's very much control over command. Now 23 and a half years old, he'll be a reliever long term where he can continue to attack hitters head on with his explosive stuff. So long as his command holds together and he can stay healthy, he should be a quick mover. In fact, he's already flying through the minors with a 2.92 ERA and a 12/3 strikeout to walk ratio over 12.1 innings between the Arizona Complex League, High A Spokane, and AA Hartford.
19-562: LHP Kannon Handy, Colorado Mesa {video}
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $100,000.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked. Prospects Live: unranked.
There's not much information out there on Kannon Handy, but I wanted to highlight him as a hometown mountain kid. Handy grew up in the southwestern Salt Lake City suburb of Herriman and attended Jordan High School in nearby Sandy, then crossed the state line to pitch at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. After four years and over two hundred innings there, he'll continue east on I-70 to pitch in the Rockies' organization. Handy didn't necessarily have a standout season in 2023, pitching to a 5.57 ERA and an 88/38 strikeout to walk ratio over 64.2 innings against Division II competition. An article I found from a couple years ago noted him as having a low 90's fastball, a curveball, and a changeup, though I don't know if that's still the case. Already 23 years old, he has a big, physical frame at 6'3" with plenty of arm strength, though his command is probably fringy. That's about all I have on him. He made two appearances in the Arizona Complex League and allowed one hit and no runs or walks across 1.2 innings, striking out two.
