June 5, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky junior southpaw Taylor Rogers has been picked in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, going No. 340 overall, it was announce on Tuesday evening.

A native of Littleton, Colo., Rogers is the third UK player drafted on the second day of the MLB Draft, joining junior outfielder Brian Adams (eighth round, Padres) and junior catcher Luke Maile (eighth round, Rays).

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound southpaw has been 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 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 career, Rogers has 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.