Yankees Editorial: Will Esmil Rogers Be the Fifth Starter?
With Chris Capuano slated to start to season on the disabled list, New York Yankees skipper Joe Girardi has been tasked with finding a fifth starter to occupy the tail end of the Yankees starting rotation.
Among the potential candidates, is 29-year-old right hander Esmil Rogers, who might have pitched in the most important game of his career in a spring training exhibition game against his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays last saturday.
Rogers hurled three scoreless innings, while striking out three hitters and allowing just four hits.
"“I just tried to use all my pitches,” Rogers told Ryan Hatch of NJ.com Saturday. “My fastball, my change and slider, so, I think everything is great right now and I have good command. I can throw any kind of pitch any time I want.”"
These are some pretty encouraging words, considering control has always been Rogers biggest issue over his first six-years in the MLB.
“Right now I’m just trying to do my job,” he said. “If they’re going to give me the opportunity I’m going to do my best to help the team. It’s not about me. It’s about doing my job to try and make it an easy decision for the coaches
After the Yankees 1-0 loss to the Blue Jays, Hatched reported that Girardi said Rogers gave the Yankees coaching staff exactly what they were looking for, and added that he looked ‘pretty good’ by pounding the strike zone.
Rogers is currently competing with Adam Warren, Chase Whitley, Bryan Mitchell, and veteran Scott Baker for the fifth and final spot in the rotation. Prized prospect Luis Severino was thought to be in the mix as well, but he was sent to the minors in the first round of cuts this weekend.
“You want them to compete,” Girardi said. “Thats the whole idea behind it. And obviously, these starts as we go on get more and more important.”
Through six innings so far this spring, Rogers is yet to allow an earned run. His next start/ scheduled spring training appearance has yet to be announced, but it’s likely he’ll be ready to throw again as early as Thursday when the Yankees take on the Phillies at 7:05 pm.
More from Yanks Go Yard
- Should Yankees toss short-term extension at Harrison Bader before 2023?
- Yankees chose worst possible player to ring in New Year on 2023 team calendar
- Yankees State of the Farm System Review: Josh Breaux
- Yankees make upside play, sign former Rangers top prospect outfielder
- MLB insider claims favorite emerging in Bryan Reynolds rumors (not Yankees)