Ryan Rolison

Ryan Rolison
Rolison with the Hartford Yard Goats in 2021
Colorado Rockies
Pitcher
Born: (1997-07-11) July 11, 1997 (age 27)
Jackson, Tennessee
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 Osaka Team

Ryan Perry Rolison (born July 11, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Colorado Rockies organization. He played college baseball at the University of Mississippi.

Amateur career

Rolison attended and graduated from the University School of Jackson in Jackson, Tennessee. As a junior, he compiled a 0.74 ERA with 104 strikeouts.[1] As a senior, he was 9-0 in nine starts, striking out 108 in 58 innings while allowing only three runs and ten hits, earning him the title of Tennessee's DII-A Mr. Baseball.[2] He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 37th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead enrolled at the University of Mississippi where he played college baseball.[3]

As a freshman in 2017, Rolison began the season in the bullpen before moving into the starting rotation. In 19 games (ten starts), he compiled a 6-3 record and a 3.06 ERA, holding opposing batters to a .242 average, earning him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team along with freshman All-American honors.[4][5][6][7] After his freshman season, he played for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League where he went 4-0 with a 1.92 ERA and was named a league all-star.[8][9][10] Rolison was named a First Team Preseason All-American prior to his sophomore season.[11] As a sophomore in 2018, Rolison posted a 10-4 record over 17 appearances (16 starts) with a 3.70 ERA and 120 strikeouts.[12]

Professional career

Rolison was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the first round, with the 22nd overall selection, in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with the Rockies for a $2.9 million signing bonus.[13][14] He made his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Rookie-level Pioneer League and spent the whole season there.[15] In nine starts, he compiled a 0-1 record with a 1.86 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP.[16]

Rolison began 2019 with the Asheville Tourists of the Single-A South Atlantic League.[17] Rolison was promoted to the Lancaster JetHawks of the High-A California League after going 2-1 with a 0.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 142⁄3 innings with the Tourists.[18] With Lancaster, he was selected to participate in the All-Star Game as a member of the South Division team.[19] Over 22 starts with the JetHawks, Rolison went 6-7 with a 4.87 ERA, striking out 118 over 116+1⁄3 innings.[20] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] To begin the 2021 season, Rolison was assigned to the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Northeast.[22] After going 2-1 with a 3.07 ERA over three starts, he was promoted to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple-A West.[23] On June 14, he was placed on the injured list after having his appendix removed.[24] He was expected to return in early August, but broke a bone in his left hand while fielding balls, delaying his return.[25] He was activated later that same month.[26] Over ten starts with the Isotopes, Rolison went 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 452⁄3 innings.[27] Following the end of the season, Rolison began playing in the Dominican Professional Baseball League for the Tigres del Licey.[28]

On November 19, 2021, the Rockies selected Rolison's contract and added him to their 40-man roster.[29] He opened the 2022 season on the injured list with a shoulder injury.[30] In June, it was announced that Rolison was scheduled for surgery and would miss the entire season.[31][32] On March 25, 2023, Rolison was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the year.[33] After rehabbing with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies, Rolison was activated from the injured list on May 29 and optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.[34] He was placed back on the injured list with an unspecified injury on June 4,[35] and was transferred back to the 60-day injured list on July 14.[36] Following the season on October 20, Rolison was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Albuquerque.[37]

Personal life

The same night that Rolison was selected by the Rockies in the draft, controversy emerged after a tweet by him from 2012 resurfaced in which he wrote “Well we have one hope left … if someone shoots him during his speech,” regarding the 2012 United States presidential election. He later apologized, saying “I had no idea what I was talking about, and it was immature of me to post something like that.”[38][39]

References

  1. ^ "USJ's Rolison signs with Ole Miss". jacksonsun.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  2. ^ "Mr. Baseball goes to Ryan Rolison". WBBJ TV. May 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "With draft talk swirling, Ryan Rolison embracing more great expectations as Ole Miss' ace". The Oxford Eagle. February 4, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "Rebel ace Ryan Rolison: A star on the rise". The Daily Mississippian. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  5. ^ "All-SEC baseball: Mississippi State's Brent Rooker named player of the year". SEC Country. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "Rolison high on MLB draft boards". /oxford Citizen. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "Ole Miss sophomore LHP Ryan Rolison is widely considered a top 2018 MLB Draft prospect". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "#17 Ryan Rolison". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Three-headed Monster Leads Ole Miss Rotation". Baseball America. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game Saturday, July 22, at Spillane Field in Wareham". wickedlocal.com. July 18, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "Ryan Rolison Named First Team Preseason All-American". The Local Voice. January 9, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  12. ^ "MLB drafts 8 players from Mississippi". June 6, 2018.
  13. ^ Barnard, Colin (June 4, 2018). "Rockies select LHP Ryan Rolison in first round of MLB Draft". MileHighSports.com.
  14. ^ Newman, Kyle (June 13, 2018). "Rockies agree to terms with their first-round draft pick, lefty Ryan Rolison". Denverpost.com. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Pioneer notes: Rolison comes out firing". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  16. ^ Amore, Dom. "Hartford Yard Goats ace Ryan Rolison carries the pressure of a Colorado Rockies' No. 1 draft pick gracefully". courant.com.
  17. ^ Staff, B. A. "2019 MiLB Opening Day Rosters Prospect Analysis". www.baseballamerica.com.
  18. ^ Thomas, David (April 19, 2019). "Ryan Rolison promoted to Rockies High A California League affiliate". WNWS.com. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Jensen, Marisa (June 8, 2019). "All-Star JetHawks". Antelope Valley Press. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  20. ^ Newman, Kyle (September 6, 2019). "Ryan Rolison, Rockies pitching prospect, says 2019 adversity taught him about "the pitcher I know I can be"". Denverpost.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  22. ^ Amore, Dom. "Former Colorado Rockies first-round draft pick Ryan Rolison highlights Hartford Yard Goats' 2021 opening day roster". courant.com.
  23. ^ "Ryan Rolison promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque". Mlb.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  24. ^ RotoWire Staff. "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Recovering from appendicitis". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  25. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Breaks bone in throwing hand". CBSSports.com.
  26. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Cleared to return at Triple-A". CBSSports.com.
  27. ^ Bradfield, Samantha (October 4, 2021). "Pebble Report: Triple-A prospects quietly finish 2021". Purple Row.
  28. ^ "Ryan Rolison to pitch in Dominican Winter League". MLB.com.
  29. ^ "Colorado Rockies: Ryan Rolison, two others protected from Rule Five Draft". November 19, 2021.
  30. ^ "Rockies' lefty Ryan Rolison goes on IL with shoulder injury". April 5, 2022.
  31. ^ Saunders, Patrick (June 3, 2022). "Rockies lose top prospects Ryan Rolison, Colton Welker for season due to shoulder injuries". Denver Post. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  32. ^ Groke, Nick (June 2, 2022). "Two top Rockies prospects will undergo surgery and Colorado's pitching depth is in trouble". The Athletic. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  33. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Placed on 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  34. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Activated, sent to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  35. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Back on injured list". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  36. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  37. ^ "Rockies' Ryan Rolison: Outrighted to Albuquerque". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  38. ^ "About that regrettable tweet from Rockies draft pick Ryan Rolison hoping someone would shoot Obama – The Athletic". Theathletic.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  39. ^ "Ryan Rolison addresses President Obama tweet". Mlb.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.