Taylor Rogers Called Up for MLB Debut

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former Kentucky star southpaw Taylor Rogers has been called-up by the Minnesota Twins to make his Major League Baseball debut, it was announced by the club on Wednesday morning. 

A native of Littleton, Colo., Rogers has earned his first big-league call-up after pitching just two innings in triple-A in 2016. Rogers, an 11th round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, is in his fourth full professional season and has totaled a 37-28 record in his professional career, with a 3.27 ERA. 

In 2015, Rogers played a full season with Triple-A Rochester, earning an 11-12 record and a 3.98 ERA in 28 games and 27 starts. Rogers worked 174 innings, allowing 190 hits and 44 walks, striking out 126. Following the season, Rogers pitched in the Arizona Fall League, making six starts – including the AFL Championship game. He was added to the Twins 40-man roster following his stint in the AFL. 

Rogers is on track to become the 11th former UK star to play in the big leagues over the last three seasons. He could become the 32nd former Kentucky player to play in the big leagues, including the seventh former UK star to earn MLB service time in 2015 and 2016, including Andrew Albers (Blue Jays), Joe Blanton (Royals/Dodgers), Collin Cowgill (Angels/Indians), Trevor Gott (Angels), Jason Kipnis (Indians) and Chris Rusin (Rockies). 

A 6-foot-3, 170-pound southpaw, Rogers was a fixture in the UK weekend rotation since arriving on campus out of Chatfield High School as a 37th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009. In 2012, Rogers served as UK’s Friday-night starter, appearing in 17 games with 15 starts, posting a 6-4 record and a 4.53 ERA, notching one save. Rogers tossed 89.1 innings, walking 21 and striking out 84. 

In his three-year Kentucky career, Rogers appeared in 45 games with 42 starts, owning a 13-18 record and a 5.34 ERA. Rogers tossed 249.1 innings, walking 55 and striking out 172. As a freshman, Rogers made 14 weekend starts for UK, leading the club in innings pitched (83). In 2011, Rogers made 14 appearances and 13 starts, tossing 77 innings and striking out 49. 

In his first career start, Rogers carried a perfect game into the seventh inning of a win over West Virginia in 2010, earning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week accolades. During the summer of 2011, Rogers starred in the Cape Cod League, winning the CCBL All-Star Game at Fenway Park.