In the Scouting Notebook this week we are going to look at two right handed starters. Chad Rogers was just promoted to Louisville earlier this week and made his first start yesterday with the Bats. Down in Dayton there is another teenager that just joined the rotation (making three teenagers currently in the rotation) in Jackson Stephens.
Chad Rogers dominated the Double-A Southern League in parts of two seasons as he posted an ERA of 2.13 and 1.05 WHIP over 101.1 innings pitched between 2012 and 2013. He got promoted to Louisville and made his first start last night, going 6 innings and allowing 3 runs with 2 walks and a strikeout. The line wasn’t sexy but it goes down as a quality start.
Scouting Report
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Rogers is in his second season of starting after beginning his professional career as a reliever. Out of the bullpen he was throwing 92-94 and touched 96 on a rare occasion with an above-average slider. In the rotation things aren’t quite the same. Rogers has added a change up to his repertoire to go along with the fastball and slider.
His fastball from the rotation isn’t where it was from the bullpen as he works 89-91 and touches 92. He is short, listed at 5′ 11″, so he doesn’t throw on a downhill plane but he does pound the bottom of the strikezone with his fastball. He has above-average control of the pitch and good command as he rarely misses with the pitch.
The slider is still an above-average pitch. He doesn’t control it at all times, but more often than not he can throw it in the strikezone or very close to the strikezone to get hitters chase. Every now and again the pitch will be inconsistent, but when it is at its best it is a quality breaking ball that will play in the Majors.
His change up is still relatively new to him as he just started throwing it last year. With that said, it is a below-average pitch that hasn’t shown much improvement since last season. The pitch sits in the mid-80’s and is true. There isn’t enough separation in velocity between his fastball and change up to keep hitters honest. Without improvement of his change up it isn’t likely that he will remain a starting pitcher at the next level.
Jackson Stephens has had three starts with the Dayton Dragons since being called up. He has gone 12.2 innings over those three starts with a 5.68 ERA with 4 walks and 12 strikeouts. He shows a fastball, change up and a breaking ball.
His fastball has picked up some velocity from 2012 as he is now throwing in the low 90’s and has touched 94 MPH this season. The pitch is one that he can throw in the strikezone and will flash good command of the pitch at times but can also miss at times within the zone.
His curveball is inconsistent, perhaps even being a bit slurvy at times but can also be a strong pitch when it is at its best with good break. He can locate it in the strikezone and if the pitch can become consistent it will be a pitch he can lean on as he moves up the ladder.
The change up is his strongest pitch right now, though he uses it less than the other two. The pitch has good tumbling action on it and good armside run. It has plus potential and is already above-average.
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