Mets Add Unique Reliever Tyler Rogers
Tyler Rogers, known for having the slowest fastball in baseball, is joining the Mets. It’s interesting because he only relies on two pitches, and his submarine throwing style really sets him apart from others in the league right now.
Rogers was acquired from the Giants in a deal that also involved prospects Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell, alongside bailiff Jose Boto heading to San Francisco.
Since his debut with the Giants in 2019, Rogers has notched a solid 2.79 ERA over 396 innings. In fact, over the last five seasons, he’s managed the sixth-best ERA (2.74) among pitchers who have thrown at least 250 innings from the bullpen. It’s a feat, especially considering his softer throwing technique has allowed him to be incredibly durable in that role.
Since 2021, he has appeared in all but 346 games, leading the National League in appearances during that stretch. He has been consistent, pitching in at least 68 games for each of the past four seasons.
Rogers works primarily with a sinker that averages around 83 miles per hour and an unconventional slider with significant horizontal movement—almost a foot. While he doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, averaging just 6.7 per nine innings, he’s effective at generating soft contact and doesn’t walk many hitters. His hard-hit rate of 31.1% since 2021 ranks as the third-best among eligible relievers, and his walk rate is impressively low at just 2.1% over the past two years.
Despite giving up 27 home runs throughout his major league career, including only three during his time with the Giants this season, Rogers has proven tough against long balls.
At 34, there are indications he might actually be performing better than ever. His stats include a remarkable ERA of 1.80, a walk rate of 0.7 per nine innings, a ground ball rate of 64.4%, and hits allowed per nine at 7.0.
Even with his unorthodox style, advanced metrics favor Rogers. His fielding-independent pitching number stands at 3.31, indicating consistent performance over his career, and he also ranks well in various expected metrics.
Although he doesn’t throw particularly hard, he could be a considerable asset in setting up for Edwin Diaz. With Rogers backing Diaz, the Mets’ bullpen might just be one of the most talented in baseball, especially on paper, especially after adding fireballer Ryan Hellsley and lefty Legory Soto.
