Showcase could be coming-out party for Rox prospect

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The idea of the inaugural Spring Breakout -- a four-day festival of Spring Training games featuring prospects, held from March 14-17 -- is to make sure talents like Rockies left-handed pitching prospect Sean Sullivan become known commodities quickly.

If the early steps of Sullivan’s career are an indication, he’ll take care of that himself.

Sullivan -- the Rockies’ second-round Draft pick out of Wake Forest last July -- appeared in just three Minor League games, two in the Arizona Complex League and one with Single-A Fresno. He fanned 10 in four innings with one walk and no hits. He fanned all six hitters he faced in his lone game with Fresno.

It’s quite possible that Sullivan, 21 -- the Rockies’ No. 13 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- will be seen by a larger audience when prospects who carry Colorado’s hopes meet a group representing Arizona at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 16 at 5:10 p.m. MT. It will be the nightcap of a doubleheader, with the Rockies and Athletics meeting in a Cactus League game at 2:10 p.m. MT.

Sullivan also was impressive in brief action in the Arizona Instructional League. So far he has displayed all the traits the Rockies liked at Wake Forest -- especially his ability to beat bats high in the zone with an 88-92 mph fastball.

Rosters for any of the prospect games are not guaranteed, but Minor League camp will have begun, and players and pitchers should be built up enough for the seven-inning tussle. But if Sullivan takes the mound, it’ll be a chance to display some of his unique traits.

Sullivan is listed at 6-4, but his slingshot delivery and efficient leg drive give him extension toward the plate associated with an even taller man.

“I’m not exactly sure why that is, but a big thing I’ve been taught is just getting down the mound, getting my arm out there,” Sullivan said in Scottsdale as he wrapped up his instructional participation in October. “That helps me throw more strikes, and it is harder for the hitter being that much closer -- perceived velocity.

“I try to get extended, and that keeps my arm healthy.”

Sullivan is a Boston native who doesn’t mind being compared to a couple of pitchers who had nice careers with the Red Sox.

“I’ve heard Chris Sale, maybe Andrew Miller,” Sullivan said. “But I wouldn't say I try to mimic them. It’s just that we are naturally similar down the mound and have similar arm slots.”

The Rockies have leaned on college pitchers like Sullivan, partly because they’ve had more success in the Majors than their high school Draft picks, and partly because they can make it to the Majors sooner.

“That’s always the dream, but you can’t be focused on something out of your control,” Sullivan said. “Go pitch by pitch, game by game.”

The Rockies’ entire Spring Training will be prospect-oriented, with many position players in their MLB Pipeline Top 10 trying to show they are worthy of callups sooner rather than later. The Spring Breakout game against the D-backs figures to be slightly different. Expect Colorado’s squad to be heavy on players from last summer’s Draft.

The Rockies and their top pick, Tennessee right-hander Chase Dollander (their No. 3 prospect), decided that they would build for 2024 rather than jump into Minor League ball immediately. But he is expected to be ready for Spring Training and could be part of the Spring Breakout game. Also expect to see catcher/utility man Cole Carrigg (No. 11), third baseman Kyle Karros (No. 27) and right-handed reliever Cade Denton (No. 29) -- all members of the 2023 Draft class.