The Colorado Rockies selected left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison with the 22nd pick of the MLB Draft Monday night. Rolison is nearing the completion of his sophomore year with the Ole Miss Rebels.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound native of Jackson, Tenn., joins Drew Pomeranz, who was selected by the Cleveland Indians with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, as the only pitchers to be drafted in the first round in school history.
MLB scouts say that Rolison has one of the best curveballs of any pitcher in the draft. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and he throws a changeup and slider.
After being selected in the 37th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, Rolison decided to attend Ole Miss. He earned Freshman All-America honors in his first year with the Rebels and continued that success into this season.
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Rolison leads an Ole Miss pitching staff currently ranked No. 4 in the nation and competing in a regional championship. He is 10-4 this season with a 3.70 ERA and 120 strikeouts compared to 45 walks.
Rolison is the seventh left-handed pitcher to be selected by the Rockies in the first round, joining Kyle Freeland (2014), Tyler Anderson (2011), Tyler Matzek (2009), Christian Friedrich (2008), Jeff Francis (2002) and Doug Million (1994).
This is the fifth time since 2010 the Rockies have selected a pitcher with their first pick of the draft. Rolison will likely make his way to rookie ball this summer.
