Erie, Pennsylvania – In the Tigers’ dream, which isn’t much different from Jake Rogers’ vision, he gets that leg-kick, timing issue ironed out and hits with the kind of pop and consistency that can put him in Detroit no later than 2020.
Hitting is the only issue. Defensive artistry, throwing out runners – there are reasons MLB Pipeline, among other national bird-dogs, have tabbed Rogers as the minor leagues’ best defensive catcher.
“He’s just so athletic,” said Erie manager Andrew Graham, who last week was talking about his Double A project. “He played shortstop in high school.