Rockies' Chase Dollander Headed for UCL Surgery

Rockies’ Chase Dollander Headed for UCL Surgery

Sport

By lines

June 13, 2026

Chase Dollander faces surgery on his right UCL, ending the Colorado Rockies pitcher’s 2026 season. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer confirmed the surgery path Friday afternoon. The decision removes a 24-year-old former first-round pick from Colorado’s rotation.

Dollander Trends Toward Tommy John Reconstruction

Schaeffer said Friday that Dollander faces surgery on the right ulnar collateral ligament. The Rockies moved Dollander to the 60-day injured list on Friday. Colorado made that roster move before a three-game series against the Athletics. Dollander awaits a pre-op appointment, so the surgery date stays undetermined for now.

Dollander last pitched on May 14 in Pittsburgh, lasting just one inning before exiting. The Rockies placed Dollander on the 15-day injured list the next day. Colorado cited a right elbow strain for Dollander at that time. Dollander has not pitched in a Rockies game since that May 14 outing. The elbow strain has now progressed toward full UCL surgery in June.

Dollander is a 24-year-old former first-round pick the Rockies drafted to anchor their rotation. Dollander showed front-line potential across April and May before the elbow injury. The Rockies built rebuilding plans around Dollander and other young starters. Colorado viewed Dollander as a near-term answer at the top of the rotation.

Tommy John reconstruction commonly requires a 12-to-18-month recovery for MLB pitchers. A full reconstruction could cost Dollander part or all of the 2027 season. Pitchers often need extra time to rebuild velocity after the procedure. The Rockies will plan Dollander’s rehab around that extended recovery window. Dollander faces that long road if surgeons confirm a complete repair.

The Rockies lose a projected rotation anchor for the rest of the 2026 season. Colorado must now cover Dollander’s innings from a thin starting rotation. The Dollander news extends a run of pitching injuries for Colorado in 2026. Losing Dollander slows the Rockies’ timeline toward a competitive rotation.

Colorado has cycled through young starters while chasing rotation stability across 2026. Dollander projected as the clearest long-term answer before the elbow gave out. The Rockies now weigh innings limits and call-ups across a depleted rotation. Colorado faces those rotation questions immediately during the Athletics series in Las Vegas.

Dollander and the Rockies await a pre-op appointment that sets the surgery date. The timeline could push Dollander’s return toward 2027 or beyond. Colorado opened a three-game set against the Athletics in Las Vegas. The Rockies must now manage their 2026 rotation without Dollander entirely.