Scouting Report Esmil Rogers

Esmil Rogers
25 Years Old
2nd Major League Season
Bats R/Throws R

I consider myself pretty well versed with other teams young pitchers, but I had not heard of Rogers and was about to dismiss him and give the Mets the victory after seeing his 6.13 ERA and 1.74 WHIP last year with the Rockies in 70 innings. Then I began to dig deeper and this will not be an easy match-up. He was ranked as the #6 prospect in the Rockies system prior to the 2010 season.

Rogers was signed as a Shortstop out of the Dominican Republic, but after 3 years his bat never progressed, so they transitioned him to the mound, where he showed mid-90s fastball and a sharp curve-ball. He progressed very quickly through the system, and was even given a start in September of 2009 (he started 2008 in A ball). Last year he was jockeyed around between AAA and the majors, and while in the majors, he bounced between starting and relieving (8 starts, 28 games). When he did throw, he flashed electric stuff (8.3 K/9), but also was a victim of an obscene BAPIP (.390), which is why his ERA and WHIP were so bad (FIP was 3.44).

Rogers is a 4-pitch pitcher, featuring a mid-90s fastball (94+ mph average), a plus curve (81 mph), an average slider (85 mph), and a below-average change-up (86 mph) that he used to try to overthrow/slow down his delivery and telegraph it. If he wants to be a starter, he really needs to develop his change-up, because lefties have hit him hard in the minors, and hit .362 against him in 2010. He has swing and miss stuff (9.7% in 2010), and a decent walk rate (3.1).

He faced the Mets twice in relief last year in April, going 3 innings, allowing 1 run on 2 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 4.

In his first start this year, he dominated the Pirates, pitching into the 8th inning, allowing only 1 run on 4 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 7 for the win. He only needed 95 pitches to get 22 outs (7 1/3 innings).

He is the Rockies 5th starter to open the season, but in some games he will pitch like an ace. He is still learning how to pitch, and if he can develop a better change-up to be able to get lefties out (.331/.381/.437 in his brief major league career), then he can be a top of a rotation starter in the future.