Atlanta Braves Add Chad Rogers
By Fred Owens
Atlanta Braves Add Chad Rogers
According to the MiLB website the Atlanta Braves obtained Chad Rogers from Cincinnati Friday.
Chad Rogers is a 27 year old, 5’11” 205 pound RHP from Galveston, Texas, The Cincinnati Reds selected Rogers in the 28th round of the 2010 draft and then the story gets interesting
"“I went out there, paddled out and was sitting on my board after catching a wave,” Rogers said. “Next thing I knew, something was tugging at my foot and it happened to be a shark. At first, all I felt was the initial contact,” Rogers said. “Then I went into shock. Adrenaline took over. I got to shore and once I got back to the truck I started feeling it and almost passed out from losing quite a bit of blood. My buddy took me to the hospital and then stuff really started throbbing, I could really feel it.”"
He sat out for five weeks to let his foot heal before he began throwing and finally signed with the Reds in August.
He began his pro career in 2011 with Dayton (A) where they used him mostly in relief. In 2012 they converted him to a starter and promoted him twice, first to High A then to AA. That season he posted a combined 2.90 ERA, 1.224 WHIP in 27 starts totaling 143 innings, striking out 111 and walking 35.
He started 2013 in AA and later moved to AAA Louisville still working as a starter. That season he threw another 140 innings with a 3.21 ERA, 1.129 WHIP while striking out 103 and walking 45. Following that season Baseball America ($) named Rogers the Reds’ #15 prospect. Their scouting report laid out his style and projection
". . . Rogers’ ultimate destination likely is low-leverage relief, in part because his stuff will play up in shorter stints but also because he lacks a quality changeup. He pitches at 88-92 mph, sitting 91 with an average fastball that he can sink, cut or run. He also can manipulate an average slider, throwing it harder or softer depending on the situation. Rogers’ changeup clearly is his third-best pitch, a below-average offering he doesn’t trust, which makes him vulnerable to lefthanders."
Rogers spent all of 2014 with Louisville but he was now a full-time relieve, a transition that wasn’t smooth. That season he appeared in 35 games throwing 53 innings with a 5.09 ERA, 4.792 WHIP striking out 34 and walking 37. Those numbers resulted in his beginning the 2015 season back in AA. He made just 10 appearances in AA an unspecified meniscus injury to his left knee ended his season.
This season saw him back in Louisville (AAA) where he made 30 appearances posting a 3.79 ERA, 1.244 WHIP in 54 2/3 IP, striking out 49 and walking 22 with a break for a trip to the disabled list from June 27 to July 9 – for reasons I could not determine.
In his eight appearances after returning from the minor league DL Rogers threw 16 2/3 innings with a 6.48 with a 1.077 WHIP striking out 15 and walking six.
Since arriving at Gwinnett Rogers made one appearance, a 5 2/3 inning relief stint giving up five runs on seven hits and striking out four without a walk.
According to Trent Rosencrans (Via Twitter) the Reds will receive the ubiquitous PTBNL for Rogers.
Next: Barves Series Win Was In The Cards
That’s A Wrap
Rogers has a good back story but hasn’t shown the ability to get people out without giving up runs as a reliever and the Reds at least didn’t think they could use him as a starter.
As a result Rogers looks like more grist for the mill, a young player to watch and hope for a break through that propels him to the majors.