Condon tops Rockies' reranked Top 30 Prospects list (2024)

DENVER -- Make no mistake: right-hander Chase Dollander is a rising pitching prospect in the Rockies’ system. After beginning his first pro season by striking out 111 in 70 innings at High-A Spokane, Dollander has posted a 1.86 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings in his first four starts at Double-A Hartford.

At any rate, Dollander -- the ninth overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft -- went from No. 1 to No. 2 in the newest MLB Pipeline Rockies organization prospect ranking. But by no means is it correct to say a man whose career is on such an upward path has fallen.

There is elite stuff, starting with his upper 90s fastball and a slider that needed game experience to start flummoxing pro hitters the way it did collegians. And Dollander is developing quickly. An example: He yielded five hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings against Reading in his second Double-A game, then held the same opponent to three hits and one run -- with six strikeouts -- five days later.

“He’s still managing the lineups, even though the lineups are better, and he’s adjusting quicker -- I’ve seen that in his short time in Double-A,” said Flint Wallace, the Rockies’ coordinator of pitching strategies. “His stuff plays at any level. That’s where he’s really good. And he’s got the ability to make adjustments, pitch to pitch.”

Dollander, 22, is one of many interesting stories within the Rockies’ pitching developments -- Top 30 and beyond -- during this season.

Victor Vodnik leaped from the No. 25 spot on the season-opening list to the Majors, and is operating as the club’s closer.

Tanner Gordon began the year unlisted but holds a Rockies rotation spot, and righty Bradley Blalock -- who arrived at the Trade Deadline from the Brewers and holds the current No. 24 spot -- debuted with the Rockies in a start at Arizona on Monday, to positive reviews. The next starter could be lefty Carson Palmquist (No. 15), who fanned 111 in 81 2/3 Double-A innings and is currently with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Among relievers on the list, righty Jaden Hill (No. 21), at Albuquerque after strong Double-A work, could reach Denver this year if the breaks are right. (Off the list, righty Seth Halvorsen has done what Hill has done and is a candidate for a big league debut.)

So pitchers up and down the list are making noise. But let’s look at the new No. 1 -- Charlie Condon, the Rockies’ third overall pick in this year’s Draft. Through his first five games at Spokane, Condon went 6-for-22 (.286) with a home run and a double. More than that, the Rockies are impressed with Condon’s mind and manner.

“He’s a very humble kid who works hard -- and he asks great questions,” Rockies player development director Chris Forbes said. “What he does, he’s got a great future in front of him. But we’re impressed with just the guy.”

Throughout the Top 30, position players have made noise.

Outfielder Jordan Beck (No. 3) was called up at the end of April, missed 60 games with fractured left hand, but was recalled to the Majors on Monday, and infielder Adael Amador (the No. 1 prospect at season’s start, now No. 6) has gotten his first Major League taste. Outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 5) is a step away at Triple-A after turning hot his final two months at Hartford, and catcher Drew Romo (No. 9) may be just a half-step from a callup.

Finally, outfielder Zac Veen (No. 4) was impressive enough in 36 games at Hartford (.855 OPS, five homers, 10 stolen bases) that he stays high on the list despite missing much of the season with injuries to his back and both thumbs.

Here’s a look at the Rockies’ top five prospects

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:

Jump: Kyle Karros, 3B (Preseason: 29 | Midseason: 19)
A fifth-round pick out of UCLA last year, Karros rose 10 spots by posting a .325/.401/.504 slash line with 13 home runs and 70 RBIs through his first 102 games at Spokane.

New to the list

Here are the players added to the Rockies Top 30 from outside the organization

No. 1. Charlie Condon, 3B (Pick No. 3 in 2024 MLB Draft)
No. 7: Brody Brecht, RHP (Pick No. 38 in 2024 MLB Draft)
No. 12: Jared Thomas, OF/1B (Pick No. 42 in 2024 MLB Draft)
No. 24: Bradley Blalock, RHP (Acquired in trade with Brewers)
No. 30: Cole Messina, C (Pick No. 77 in 2024 MLB Draft)

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools – 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 60 -- Charlie Condon
Power: 70 -- Charlie Condon
Run: 70 -- Benny Montgomery
Arm: 70 -- Cole Carrigg
Defense: 60 -- Benny Montgomery (Drew Romo, Jared Thomas, Ryan Ritter)
Fastball: 70 -- Brody Brecht
Curveball: 50 -- Chase Dollander (Gabriel Hughes, Bradley Blalock)
Slider: 70 -- Brody Brecht
Changeup: 60 -- Jaden Hill
Control: 55 -- Sean Sullivan