By Samantha Bradfield
Ryan Rolison’s (No. 1 PuRP) 2021 season so far is mirroring his 2019 campaign. During that 2019 season, Rolison spent just three games in Low-A Asheville before being promoted to High-A Lancaster, where he remained for the rest of the season. (You can read more about the decision process behind that move here.) He made his big league camp debut in 2020, but lost the season due to COVID-19 league protocols. Now in 2021, he has been promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque after making just three starts for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. Sound familiar?
NOTE: Ryan Rolison graduated from USJ in 2016.
The left-hander was selected in the first round of the 2018 draft and has quickly risen through the Rockies farm ranks. In 37 career minor league starts, Rolison holds a 3.86 and 1.22 WHIP. Just this year alone, he has pitched in three games and allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits while striking out 20 batters. He has also only allowed three free passes — two walks and one hit batter — in his 14 2⁄3 innings.
After his promotion to Lancaster, Rolison’s ERA ballooned from 0.61 to 4.87, but the California League (and Lancaster in particular) was a hitter’s haven so a 4.87 isn’t horrible given that environment. His WHIP also went from 0.68 to 1.44 in Lancaster, but again, that’s not completely unexpected. His Triple-A debut is tentatively scheduled for May 22 against the Oklahoma City Dodgers.
(PHOTO: Ryan Rolison)
