Topes Notes: Pitcher Dollander chasing big-league form

The Colorado Rockies this season sent a top 10 prospect in outfielder Zac Veen to Arizona to work on his game after he struggled in his big league debut. The workouts, out of public view, seemed to help.

Now, the Rockies are hoping a recent Arizona trip for right-handed starting pitcher Chase Dollander, who was the organization’s No. 1 prospect entering the season, according to MLB Pipeline, will net a similar result.

Dollander, who struggled in the big leagues earlier this season (2-9 in 15 starts, 6.68 ERA), came back to Albuquerque last month only to give up five earned runs off six hits and three walks in 5.0 innings and then got sent to Arizona.

“It was super productive,” Dollander said last week in Albuquerque of his time in Arizona. “I threw in the (team’s new pitching) lab four times when I was down there, and one of them was a pretty high intent lab to make sure that we’re kind of keeping the intensity up. We made some really, really good strides.”

A month ago, Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said Dollander, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2023 (No. 9 overall), must become a more efficient pitcher.

“Absolutely, that’s a byproduct of execution,” Dollander said of his goal to get deeper into games. “For me, it’s just working on execution.”

Then, Dollander lasted just 2 2/3 innings last Wednesday in a start against Sacramento, allowing three hits, three earned runs and walking two, while getting tagged with the loss.

There remains no timetable on his return to Denver.

Know the foe

The Isotopes on Tuesday open a seven- game home series against the Round Rock Express. The series includes a doubleheader Wednesday with two seven-inning games — the first being a make-up game to the July 13 contest in Round Rock that got rained out.

• Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, are 45-61 overall, ninth place; 14-18 second half, seventh place
• Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers are 48-57 overall, seventh place; 14-16 second half, tied-fifth place

Player(s) of the week

Current Isotopes 1B Keston Hiura on Monday was named the PCL Player of the Week for July 28-Aug. 3 after hitting .409 (9-for-22) in six games against the Sacramento River Cats with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and five RBI.

Former Isotopes (called up just last month by the Rockies) IF Warming Bernabel was named the National League Player of the Week while one time Tope SS Trevor Story, now with the Boston Red Sox, was the AL Player of the Week.

Three up, three down

Looking good:

1. Albuquerque won last week’s series vs. Sacramento 4-2 for just the team’s second series win of the season, but third-consecutive series win over the River Cats in the Duke City (also in 2023 and 2024).

2. OF Braiden Ward has 14 stolen bases in 16 Triple-A games. That’s 19th in the PCL. He’s the only player in the Top 20 in stolen bases with fewer than 49 games played.

3. The Isotopes have scored eight or more runs in each of their past seven wins (they are 7-4 in the past 11 games).

Look away:

1. OF Sam Hilliard and IF Aaron Schunk went a combined 0-for-8 on Sunday with both seeing double-digit-game hit streaks snap (11 games for Hilliard, 14 for Schunk).

2. The Isotopes are the only PCL team to not yet have 400 walks this season. The team’s 397 walks is 144 fewer than PCL-leading OKC (541).

3. Albuquerque pitchers walked 10 batters Sunday against Sacramento, the fourth double-digit walk game of the season.

Fast food

Things are heating up in the chile pepper race standings at Isotopes Park (through 50 races):

• Salsa Jar — 14 wins
• Taco — 14 wins
• Green Chile — 13 wins
• Red Chile — 9 wins

Homestand highlights

Wednesday (doubleheader): Gates open at 3 p.m. for the doubleheader, which will be two seven-inning games making up for a contest that was rained out earlier in the season.

Thursday: Magazine giveaway, courtesy Albuquerque the Magazine.

Friday: Native American Heritage Night; Ladaya Desiderio will sing the national anthem in Diné; T-shirt giveaway to first 2,000 fans; pregame autographs from 5:40-6 p.m. on third base side of concourse.

Saturday: Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico game; Tamalewood Night celebrating film community with movie-themed promotions throughout the game; postgame fireworks.

Sunday: Faith & Family Night with pregame worship concert featuring Duke City Worship playing on the outfield berm. Gates open at 5 p.m. for 6 p.m. game.