SARASOTA—Trevor Rogers hadn’t pitched at Ed Smith Stadium since he was a minor leaguer with the Miami Marlins in 2019. Rogers, who had been acquired by the Orioles from Miami at the 2024 trade deadline, wasn’t able to pitch last year in spring training because of a knee injury.
In his first live batting practice on Saturday, Rogers was sizzling, striking out seven of the 10 batters he faced.
“My body was in a really good spot,” he said. “The command, probably better than I was thinking, I thought there’d probably be a couple of sprays the first time I was facing hitters in a couple of weeks. I was happy with my command, just the way the ball was moving today.”
The 28-year-old left-hander will likely throw at least one more live batting practice at Ed Smith and perhaps get a few starts there for Grapefruit League games. It’s important for him to build on his outstanding 2025.
Starting the season on the injured list, Rogers didn’t become part of the Orioles’ rotation until June 18th. He ended up being elected the Most Valuable Oriole.
Rogers was 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA, allowing just 5.7 hits per nine innings and only six home runs in 109 2/3 innings.
He’d like to build on that in 2026.
“It would be easy to fall into that pattern this year just with the year I had last year,” Rogers said as Orioles camp opened this week. “It’s not my focus. I had a really good year. Anything I can do to continue to be consistent for this team and help this team win, I’m willing to do. I just want to do my job well.
“You want to replicate some things that worked well and work on some things that I needed to work on, be out of the stretch a little bit more, feel comfortable out of the stretch. Just cleaning up the sweeper a little bit more, trying to become more of a complete pitcher.”
Rogers thinks the Orioles are far better than last year’s club.
“This team is so exciting. I saw a mock lineup a month-and-a-half ago after we got [Taylor] Ward and [Pete] Alonso, it’s scary. It’s scary how good this team can be. I’m really fired up for this year.”
Last year, the Orioles started the season 15-28 and fired manager Brandon Hyde on May 17th, when Tony Mansolino became the interim manager. The team played better under Mansolino but not well enough to avoid a massive selloff in July. The Orioles finished 75-87 and in last place in the American League East.
“If we just didn’t have that slow start, you’re looking at wild-card, division, you never know what can happen,” Rogers said. “I think we’ve learned the start of the season is just as important as any part of the season. I think it was a good learning experience from this group how hard it is to make the playoffs year-in and year-out. I think we’re going to be a lot better because of it.”
New manager Craig Albernaz decided to retain the three pitching coaches — Drew French, assistant Mitch Plassmeyer and game planner Ryan Klimek.
“Just to know nothing changes on our side, I was fired up,” Rogers said. “They do such a great job of getting us ready, getting us prepared. That communication that we have and that relationship, I was happy [they] were coming back.”
The Orioles have more quality options to start games in 2026.
Rogers is joined by Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer, Zach Eflin and the newly signed Chris Bassitt, who will turn 37 on February 22nd.
“The veteran presence that he can help us with, the experience, the run that he went on in the playoffs last year,” Rogers said of Bassitt. “I think that type of knowledge could really help us. He eats innings and he’s really consistent, so I think he can help this team a lot.
“It makes you feel really good that we just have a lot of options to go to, and it also brings out that competitive spirit. We all want to compete and do well, so we’re all pulling towards the same direction.”
Rogers would be open to extension talks, but there haven’t been any yet.
“If they come up, it’d be great,” he said. “This organization has helped me a lot. Unfortunately, it’s something out of my control. Hopefully, as the season goes on and maybe this offseason, we’ll have some conversations. It’s somewhere I want to be. If it happens, it happens.”
Former Orioles update: Left-hander John Means signed a two-year minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. Means suffered an Achillies tendon tear during offseason workouts and isn’t expected to pitch this season. … Left-hander Cionel Pérez has signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.