Chase Dollander in 2023 MLB Draft: Everything to know about Tennessee baseball's top prospect
Tennessee baseball's top 2023 MLB Draft prospect to begin the season was its top prospect to end it.
Right-hander Chase Dollander is expected to be a first-round pick in Sunday's first round and could go as high as the top 10.
After arriving at Tennessee from Georgia Southern in 2022, Dollander emerged as the ace on a Vols team that won a program-record 57 games. Dollander's 10-0 record and 2.39 ERA made him a favorite to go No. 1 overall. That won't happen after Dollander finished 7-6 with a 4.96 ERA in 2023, but he still flashed enough command and pitchability to be the first UT player taken Sunday.
At No. 9 on MLB's prospect list, there's plenty to like about Dollander, including his upper-90s fastball and mix of secondary pitches.
Here is what you need to know about Dollander ahead of the 2023 MLB Draft:
He was 2022's most untouchable arm
In his sophomore season, Dollander dominated and was ranked No. 20 in ERA and No. 24 in strikeouts per nine innings.
With a 2.39 ERA over 79 innings pitched paired with 108 strikeouts, he earned SEC Pitcher of the Year and was a multi-publication All-American.
Tennessee scouted him when they faced him in his freshman season
Not many had heard of Dollander when he began his college career at Georgia Southern, but Tennessee was a quick study.
Dollander made his first collegiate start against UT, and Tony Vitello's staff liked what it saw.
In his outing against the Vols, he tossed 5⅔ innings with eight strikeouts and one earned run. The following offseason, Dollander transferred to play for the Vols.
He was MLB's No. 2 prospect ... until Paul Skenes
Entering the 2023 baseball season, many thought Dollander would be a lock for a top-three pick in the draft
That was until LSU' ace Paul Skenes emerged after transferring from Air Force.
Skenes played a significant role at Air Force and finished the 2022 season as an ERA leader in the NCAA behind Dollander and right-hander Drew Beam. But after transferring to LSU, he developed into a different pitcher.
Now, Skenes enters the draft No. 1 spot on the prospect list, which says more about Skenes than Dollander.
Dollander finished his career as Vol with a 3.64 ERA, 17 wins, 168 innings pitched and 228 strikeouts.
HOW SKENES DID AGAINST THE VOLS: How many 100 mph pitches did LSU's Paul Skenes throw vs Tennessee in College World Series?
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Chase Dollander in 2023 MLB Draft: What to know about Tennessee pitcher
