Ryan Perry Rolison, a 28-year-old left-hander from Jackson, TN, is looking to make his mark with the Chicago Cubs after four challenging years with Colorado. Standing at 6’2”, Rolison’s journey through the Major Leagues has been anything but smooth, but there's still potential waiting to be tapped.
In his recent Spring Training outings, Rolison has struggled, giving up a home run and six earned runs over three innings. While these numbers suggest he might not be heading north of Des Moines anytime soon, the Cubs seem willing to give him more opportunities to find his groove.
Rolison's career began with promise as a first-round pick (#22) by the Rockies in 2018. Since then, he's been on the move, with the Cubs becoming his third team this winter after stints with Atlanta and the White Sox.
Last year with the Rockies, Rolison pitched 42.1 innings and posted a 7.02 ERA, giving up 11 home runs. The long ball has been a persistent issue, and his control has been shaky, with more walks than the team would like.
Despite these challenges, Rolison has the tools to succeed. His arsenal includes a fastball, slider, curve, and changeup, with his fastball hitting the mid-90s. The talent is there, but something isn't clicking just yet.
While there’s a possibility he could be designated for assignment, the Cubs might see value in keeping him around for depth, especially with Iowa needing pitching help. Rolison's journey is a reminder that in baseball, sometimes it takes just one tweak to unlock a player's potential. The Cubs are hoping he finds that key soon.