The Marlins spent back-to-back first-round picks on high school left-handers, taking Braxton Garrett in 2016 and Rogers the following June. After signing him for $3.4 million, they opted to rest his arm and delayed his pro debut until May 2018, when he was already 20 1/2 years old. He cut his ERA from 5.82 in his first pro season to 2.90 in his second, leading the system with 150 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings while advancing to Double-A.
Rogers' 90-93 mph fastball peaks at 96 and plays better than its velocity because his easy delivery allows it to get on hitters quickly. He shows some feel for a changeup that has some tumble and could become a solid offering with more consistency. His advanced age for a prepster and his lack of a breaking ball worried some clubs in the 2017 Draft, and he has tried to address the latter issue by adding a cutter that shows more promise than his slurvy curveball.
The cousin of former Miami outfielder Cody Ross, Rogers lacks a true plus pitch but he repeats his delivery and commands his repertoire well. His floor presently stands out more than his ceiling, as he looks like a good bet to become a No. 4 starter.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
The cousin of former big leaguer Cody Ross, Rogers showed his potential during a standout turn on the summer showcase circuit but featured less consistency during his senior campaign in the New Mexico prep ranks. The Marlins ultimately nabbed him with the No. 13 overall pick, marking the second straight year the organization had selected a prep lefty in the first round after taking Braxton Garrett seventh overall in 2016. Rogers never took the mound that summer because the Marlins opted to give him additional rest, but he pitched increasingly well as the 2018 season progressed after making his pro debut with Class A Greensboro in May.
Rogers features an impressive fastball, one capable of reaching of the mid-90s but typically sits more in the low 90s. His heater plays up because of his long arms, deception and very good command of the pitch. The southpaw's secondary stuff is well behind his fastball, as Rogers will throw a slider and a curveball that tend to bleed together, with the former currently ahead of the latter. He has trouble staying on top of his curve, and some scouts believe he will likely be better off sticking to the slider at the next level. He also throws a changeup that is getting better and approaching average.
Already plenty athletic with clean arm action and a repeatable delivery, the Marlins believe Rogers is just scratching the surface of his physical potential. He's been brought along slowly to begin his career, but Rogers has the profile to move relatively quickly as he attempts to achieve his ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Rogers, the cousin of former big leaguer Cody Ross, leapt onto the Draft radar with a strong performance on the summer showcase circuit, particularly the Area Code Games. While he wasn't quite as electric this spring as he was over the summer, his considerable upside, in a left-handed package, prompted the Marlins to draft Rogers with the No. 13 overall pick, marking the second straight year the organization had selected a prep lefty in the first round after taking Braxton Garrett seventh overall in 2016.
Rogers will show plenty of fastball, occasionally touching the mid-90s but more often than not pitching at 89-92 mph. His heater plays up because of his long arms, deception and very good command of the pitch. Rogers' secondary stuff is well behind his fastball, as he'll throw a slider and a curveball that tend to bleed together. Because he has trouble staying on top of his curve, some scouts believe he will likely be better off sticking to the slider at the next level. He also throws a changeup that is getting better and approaching average.
Rogers' velocity comes naturally because he's athletic and because he has a sound and repeatable delivery, and the Marlins feel there's a lot more to unlock from his 6-foot-6 frame. Though he's likely to be brought along slowly to begin his career, Rogers shows the makings of becoming a mid-rotation starter.
