Ryan Rolison’s Success with the Cubs

Ryan Rolison, the 29-year-old left-hander, has shown his talent and potential that led to his first-round selection by the Colorado Rockies in 2018. Despite a challenging rookie season with a 7.02 ERA over 31 games, Rolison has found his stride with the Cubs after being called up in mid-April. This year, he boasts a 2.89 ERA and a 146 ERA+ across 52 appearances.

Rolison shared his excitement about playing for the Chicago Cubs, saying, “It’s been a dream come true just to be in the situation and be able to play for the Chicago Cubs and be a key piece of this bullpen.” A recent highlight was closing a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, reflecting, “I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of the organization for taking a chance on me and helping me get to this point.”

Manager Craig Counsell recalled the Cubs’ pitching coaches’ positive reaction to Rolison during spring training. Counsell linked Rolison’s health to his success, stating, “This is a talented pitcher that just hadn’t found the answers yet. We had some good answers and he was ready to hear the answers. The teacher and the student came together, along with some good health.”

The Cubs claimed Rolison off waivers from the White Sox in January and set a vision for him. Rolison was open to change after admitting, “My results last year weren’t very good.” He worked with the coaching staff to make improvements, noting, “I sat down with them and I was open to pretty much anything. I was hungry to turn the page and show people, show myself that I can be successful at this level.”

Rolison credits his success to pitching freely with confidence, keeping a simple mindset, and tweaking his pitch arsenal with a new sinker and sweeper. He described the sinker as crucial against left-handed batters and the sweeper as providing additional movement in his repertoire. He acknowledged room for improvement against righties.

Throughout the season, Rolison has been afforded opportunities in high-pressure situations, building confidence and becoming a reliable pitching option for Counsell amid team injuries. “My mind’s not wavering on if I can get the job done or not,” Rolison added, emphasizing the importance of realizing his potential compared to the rest of the league.

As the Cubs look to secure a playoff spot, Rolison has experienced the energy of Wrigley Field but anticipates the heightened atmosphere of playoff games. “Growing up as a kid, you’re watching the playoffs on TV and seeing the electricity. The fans have been great all year, and I can’t imagine what it’s like in October.”