Miami Marlins Rotation: Opening Day 2023

Trevor Rogers was the Miami Marlins first round pick back in 2017, with the 13th pick off the board out of Carlsbad HS, in Carlsbad, NM. Still just 22-years-old, Rogers is a six-foot-six, 185 lb. left-handed starter who is ranked eighth in the Marlins now-loaded system. According to MLB Pipeline:

"Rogers has an imposing presence at 6-foot-6 and a better fastball than most left-handed starters, working at 92-94 mph and touching 96 with deception and command. His advanced age for a high schooler and his lack of feel to spin a breaking ball concerned some clubs in the 2017 Draft, and the latter remains an issue because he has trouble staying on top of his curveball and it tends to blend together with his slider. His tumbling changeup also lacks consistency but could be his best secondary pitch in the long run."

After getting selected, Rogers took the rest of 2017 off. In 2018, he started 17 games for the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League, and posted a 2-7 record with a 5.82 ERA. He posted a concerning 1.555 WHIP, but still managed to whiff 85 batters in 72 2/3 innings.

Rogers took the step to High-A last season with the Hammerheads, and did not disappoint with his progress. He was 5-8 with a 2.53 ERA in 110 1/3 innings. He struck out 122 and got his WHIP way down to 1.097. Most impressively, he walked only 24 for a K/BB over five. In five starts one step up with the Jumbo Shrimp, he struck out 28 in 26 innings and posted a 1.308 WHIP.

Rogers is still at least a season away, and this number four projection for the 2023 campaign could as easily go to stable-mate Braxton Garrett. For my money, I think Rogers has the higher ceiling.