Jake Rogers

Rogers emerged as Detroit's primary catcher in 2023, thanks in large part to his power production. The 28-year-old mashed 21 home runs in 107 games. He homered roughly once every 16 at-bats, though he was very much a boom-or-bust option at the plate. Rogers batted just .221 and struck out 32.3% of the time. Heading into 2024, fantasy managers won't complain too loudly about a low batting average if Rogers continues to hit the ball over the wall. With a fly-ball rate of nearly 42% last year, the backstop has the look of a player who is certainly trying to rack up home runs. While this leaves Rogers as a fairly one-dimensional option, there are a few reasons to think he could take another step forward. For one, he will be another year removed from the Tommy John surgery that cost him all of the 2022 season. Secondly, the Tigers don't really have anyone on hand to push Rogers for playing time, with journeyman Carson Kelly set to serve as the backup catcher. Rogers has his limitations, but he can be a valuable fantasy asset if he continues to hit for power at a thin position.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery toward the end of the 2021 season, Rogers missed all of 2022 as he rehabbed. He has been throwing in the offseason, with a goal of being fully ready to go for spring training. If that happens, Rogers should fit into the catching mix for Detroit, though it appears that Eric Haase is the starter heading into 2023. Haase worked in tandem with Tucker Barnhart in 2022, but the latter is a free agent, so playing time could be available, at least in a reserve role. Rogers is primarily known as a defensive catcher, which is evident in his career .182/.264/.378 slash line. Heading into his age-28 season, it's unlikely that Rogers takes a huge step forward as a hitter, particularly coming off his surgery and the subsequent missed time. He's largely off the fantasy radar as a backup player with limited offensive upside.

Rogers has played only sparingly in the major leagues, earning 128 plate appearances in 2019. It appeared he had chance to break through for a more substantial role in 2020, though the shortened campaign limited Rogers' ability to prove himself. Rogers has always been highly regarded for his defensive work, specifically as a receiver and game caller. Like many catchers, however, Rogers' bat is suspect. He racked up high 20 percent strikeout rates at several stops in the minor leagues and whiffed at a 39.8 percent rate in his brief major-league debut. On the other hand, he has decent raw power, evidenced by ISOs that were regularly at or slightly above .200. Looking forward to 2021, Rogers will have to fight for playing time once again with the most likely scenario being that he begins the season in the minor leagues with a strong chance to join Detroit at various points throughout the campaign.

Rogers was part of the return Detroit got when they shipped Justin Verlander to Houston. Rogers played at three levels in 2019, doing well in Double-A, adjusting in Triple-A and drowning in the majors with a .125/.222/.259 slash line in 128 plate appearances. The good news is he can still win Rookie of the Year in 2020! Rogers is the better of the two between Rogers and Grayson Greiner, but that's not saying much, and Austin Romine is now in town to serve as the primary backstop. Some backups have appeal in mono-league formats, but we're talking about the eighth or ninth hitter in the Detroit lineup when he starts. Rogers is still only 24 years old and has the minor-league profile to suggest he could be a big-league regular, but he is not there just yet.