ARLINGTON, Texas – Ryan Rolison had waited nearly seven years for his big-league debut. However, when he toed the rubber for the first time in the Major Leagues on Tuesday for Colorado at Texas, the wait was worth it for the 27-year-old Ole Miss product.
“When I got the call in the bullpen, adrenaline started going,” Rolison said after his debut. “Ryan McMahon came up and said take a second and then get back to work. Obviously, it was a little bit sped up in the first at-bat, missed with three in a row. As soon as I got that (first) strike, I knew I was back. Next guy (Smith) was a lefty, got ahead of him. Thought I’d gotten the fastball past him enough to get the out.”
Rolison entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with two runners on and the Rockies trailing 4-1. His first batter was Joc Pederson, who he walked on five pitches to load the bases. However, the affable righty got Texas’ No. 9 hitter, Josh Smith, an LSU product, to line out to third baseman Ryan McMahon to end the inning and in a flash, his debut was over.
“Yeah, he (McMahon) made a great play. That’s why he’s a Gold Glover,” Rolison said.
On Sunday, the Ole Miss product had been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque but didn’t see the mound on Sunday or Monday. However, his cheering section featuring his parents, fiancée and friends numbering about 35, was there for his debut at Globe Life Field.
“It means the world,” Rolison said. “To have 35 people show up for me is special. Every one of those (people) have had an impact in my life and know what I’ve gone through to get to this point. They wanted to celebrate it with me, and I’m forever grateful.”
Now, he’s the latest Oxford product to reach the show, a list which former teammate Tim Elko joined a few days earlier with the White Sox.
“It’s awesome (to see him in the Majors). I played with Tim my sophomore year. Incredible story, incredible teammate, incredible guy. To see his success in the big leagues is awesome,” Rolison said.
Ole Miss fans remember Rolison’s two seasons in Oxford fondly. In 2017, he earned a spot on the SEC’s all-freshman team and in 2018 went 10-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 17 appearances and was the 22nd pick in the 2018 draft by Colorado.
“Playing in the SEC was always a dream and couldn’t have picked a better school,” Rolison said. “The coaching staff built me into the man I am. A lot of growing happened over those two years, learned a lot about myself, being a man and baseball. Ole Miss is a special place. My fiancé works for the NIL collective there. Got to spend my offseason there this year and work out with the guys. Keeping track of them this year is fun.”
Period of struggle
After starting his pro career in rookie ball in 2018 and pitching well, Rolison split 2019 between Low Single-A Asheville and High-A Lancaster, where he was a California League All-Star. After the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID, he was poised for a big 2021, starting out with Double-A Hartford before earning a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque.
However, summer of 2021 was when things got weird. In June, Rolison had his appendix removed and then broke a bone in his left hand while fielding, limiting him to just 10 games with Albuquerque. Then, during winter ball in the Dominican Republic, he felt some shoulder tightness. After getting an MRI and cortisone shot in spring training in 2022, he had the first of two shoulder surgeries.
Rolison didn’t pitch in 2022 and made just four appearances in 2023 before ramping back up in 2024 and then realizing his lifelong dream in 2025.
“Yeah, my whole life I have never really been sidelined and had to take time away from the game. Those two-and-a-half years were taxing mentally, dealt with a lot of mental health stuff. Went to a dark place wondering if I’d ever be able to pitch again,” Rolison admitted. “They (my family and fiancée) kept me humble and focused. Now I’m making my Major League debut.”
Besides Rolison and his well-wishers, no one was happier to see him debut than Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer, who was managing the team for his second game after Bud Black was fired on Sunday. Schaeffer had managed Rolison in 2021 with Albuquerque and witnessed his struggles firsthand.
“I love Rolie. He is a fantastic kid,” Schaeffer said. “He has been through an awful lot in his career, a lot of injuries and a lot of those happened with me. I’m so happy he’s here to enjoy everything he’s worked for his whole life to get here.”
When Rolison was recalled and Schaeffer became manager, he initially said he wanted to find a perfect situation for him to make his debut. That high-leverage spot arose late in Tuesday’s game.
“Well, I wanted to get Rolie in there. With Joc (Pederson) and (Josh) Smith (two lefties) coming up, I thought it was a perfect opportunity, only needed to get one out, to get him in there, get them out and get those emotions pumping,” Schaeffer said. “It worked out. I’m just really happy for Rolie. You work your whole life for that. He’s gone through so much.”
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.
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