Sullivan all the wiser after ‘wake-up call’ of a debut season

Rockies left-handed pitching prospect Sean Sullivan is treating his difficult 2026 Major League debut as a learning experience. Sullivan posted an 8.87 ERA over five starts before being sidelined by shoulder and elbow injuries, which limited his action until September. Currently pitching for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, Sullivan stated that the challenging stint exposed the adjustments required in his physical conditioning and pitch arsenal.

During his rehabilitation, Sullivan gained 10 pounds and has focused on increasing his fastball velocity after averaging 87.5 mph in the Majors. Rockies director of pitching Matt Daniels noted the team is exploring different pitching staff structures, which could see Sullivan utilized in targeted outings to maximize his stuff quality alongside developing his cutter and two-seam fastball.