Player Review: Taylor Rogers

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports2023 stats: 60 games, 51.2 IP, 3.83 ERA, 3.58 xERA, 3.91 FIP, 11.15 K/9, 4.35 BB/9

On April 12th, tasked with preserving a 3-3 tie against the Doogies in the 6th inning, Taylor Rogers instead didn’t record an out. After walking the four batters he faced, he watched from the dugout as his ERA swelled from an unsightly 8.10 to a ghastly 18.90 as all of them eventually crossed home in an inning capped by a 3-run homer by Max Muncy.

Something had to change for Rogers. He was becoming a character in a narrative he wanted no part of, a protagonist along with Ross Stripling and Sean Manaea of new arms that initially boasted compelling pitching depth but were rather…