Last season Chad Rogers had a late season promotion to Double-A Pensacola and he performed quite well in 6 starts as he posted a 1.99 ERA over 31.2 innings. He showed off good control as he walked just 6 batters and he struck out 23 while posting a 1.04 WHIP. He returned to Pensacola in 2013 and he has picked up right where he left off with a 1.93 ERA through 9 starts to go along with a 1.03 WHIP. He has struck out 41 batters and walked just 15 of them in 51.1 innings pitched.
Over his combined 83 innings pitched he has a 1.95 ERA at the AA level with a 1.04 WHIP, 21 walks and 64 strikeouts. He has been incredibly consistent. Rogers has 15 starts for Pensacola. In four starts he has not allowed a single earned run. In seven starts he only allowed one earned run. In three other starts he allowed two earned runs. In just one start out of fifteen has Rogers allowed more than two earned runs for Pensacola.
Looking at his stats, he has had a low BABIP with a .258 mark through his 83 innings, which won’t be as low moving forward, but even normalizing that he has still been outstanding. His groundball rate is 45%, which is about average. Where he has been quite successful though is his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark, particularly given how well the ball flies in Pensacola. On top of that, he has also been very successful in stranding base runners with an 83% strand rate.
Rogers isn’t the most exciting prospect. He doesn’t have a first round pedigree or even a big dollar signing bonus. He doesn’t have huge strikeout numbers like a Tony Cingrani did when he came through the league. What he has been able to do though, is get the absolute most out of everything he has done at the level with good control and keeping the ball in the stadium while mixing in a little bit of good luck on balls in play. While Louisville isn’t hurting for starting pitching, you have to wonder if it is time or really close to it, for Chad Rogers to be promoted to Triple-A to join the rotation after 83 dominant innings with Pensacola.
Quick Scouting Report
Fastball – He works anywhere from 90-93 MPH with his fastball that he has very good control of and solid command of. He leaves the pitch at the knees and on the corners most games.
Slider – An above-average pitch in the 81-85 MPH range that he can throw for strikes when he wants to.
Change Up – Still a fringy pitch that he throws in the mid-80’s that must improve if he is going to use it against Major Leaguers.