Brian Rogers
Orleans 2002
Pitcher
Georgia Southern
In the spring of 2002, Brian Rogers had a decent but unspectacular season at Georgia Southern. The 80 strikeouts stood out, but his ERA was over five and he allowed more hits than innings pitched. In 2003, the story was much the same, with Rogers posting an ERA over six despite phenomenal strikeout numbers.
In between those two seasons, Rogers had a summer to remember, one where every number stood out.
Rogers came to Orleans and made an immediate splash. In the first two weeks of the season, he turned in a pair of six-inning starts without allowing a run. He struck out nine in a win over Chatham and five in a victory over Y-D.
It was kind of a classic Cape League start for a pitcher like Rogers, who allows a lot of hits. While the hitters are adjusting to wood and the quality of pitching, he dominates.
Except that Rogers sustained it.
In his next start, Rogers went seven innings without allowing a run. He did it again in his next start, this time delivering the performance of the summer. He struck out 13 and didn’t walk anybody in seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball. He finally allowed a run in his next start, but it was unearned, and by then, he was already becoming one of the summer’s best stories.
When the all-star game rolled around, Rogers was selected as the starter for the East. He allowed a two-run home run in his one inning of work, but that was one of his few blemishes.
Rogers finished the regular season with a 4-0 record, a 0.40 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 45 innings. The guy who allowed a lot of hits at school surrendered just 22 in 45 innings.
Rogers’ ERA ranks fourth in league history.
After the Cape
Rogers was drafted in the 11th round of the 2003 draft by the Tigers. He developed into a solid relief pitcher in the minors and made his Major League debut in 2006 with Pittsburgh, pitching in 10 games. He pitched briefly for the Pirates in 2007 before spending 2008 at four different minor-league stops. He did not pitch in 2009.
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