Brian Rogers

Infobox MLB player

---

width = 150
name = Brian Rogers
position = Relief pitcher
team = Free Agent
number = –
bats = Right
throws = Right
birthdate = birth date and age|1982|7|17
debutdate = September 1
debutyear = 2006
debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Win–Loss
stat1value = 0–0
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 9.28
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 8
teams =
* Pittsburgh Pirates (by|2006–by|2007)

Brian Alan Rogers (born July 17, 1982 in Dallas, Texas) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who last played in the Detroit Tigers organization, but is currently a free agent. He made his major league debut as a September call up on September 1, mlby|2006, with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Career

Detroit Tigers

Rogers pitched for Georgia Southern University, and attracted notice from the Detroit Tigers, who drafted him in the 11th round in mlby|2003. Detroit assigned him to the Low-A Oneonta Tigers in the New York - Penn League, where he went 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA in twelve starts. In mlby|2004 Detroit promoted Rogers to the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he went 6-8 with a 4.55 ERA. Lack of run support contributed to several losses: at one point in April, Rogers was 0-1 despite three consecutive quality starts and a 2.38 ERA. [cite news | title=Caps offense quiet again in shutout loss | work=Grand Rapids Press | date=April 23, 2004 | page=D8] For mlby|2005, Detroit converted Rogers into a relief pitcher and promoted him to the High-A Lakeland Tigers, where he posted a 2.06 ERA in 52 appearances. Rogers and fellow middle-reliever Danny Zell were cited by manager Mel Rojas as integral to Lakeland's success that year, while pitching coach Britt Burns called Rogers "the most improved pitcher on this staff." [cite news | title=L-Tigers dominate full-season team of FSL all-stars | work=The Ledger | date=September 4, 2005 | first=David | last=Yates | page=C6]

Detroit promoted Rogers to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves where he continued to work as a reliever, compiling a 3-2 record with an ERA of 2.39 by the end of July, when the Tigers traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for first basemen Sean Casey. [cite news | title=Tigers grab Casey, send Shelton to Toledo | work=Detroit Free Press | date=July 31, 2006 | first=John | last=Lowe | coauthors=Jon Paul Morosi]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Rogers made a whirlwind tour through Pittsburgh's minor league system, making a combined nine appearances with the Double-A Altoona Curve and Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, during which he posted a combined 1-1 record and an ERA of 0.93. The Pirates called Rogers up at the end of August, and Rogers made his major league debut on September 1, 2006. [cite news | title=No pressure on pitching prospect | work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | date=August 30, 2006 | first=Rob | last=Rossi] In ten appearances with the Pirates, Rogers posted an ERA of 8.31, but didn't figure in any decisions. Rogers spent most of the mlby|2007 season in Indianapolis, where he went 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA. The Pirates recalled Rogers briefly in May of 2006, but optioned him back to Indianapolis after he gave up three runs (including two home runs) in just two innings of work. [cite news | title=4-run 1st triggers Pirates' victory; Nady, Laroche belt HRs; 3 RBIs for Bay | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | first=Paul | last=Meyer | date=May 27, 2007 | page=C1]

Rogers returned to the Pirates' minor leagues for the mlby|2008, but was released in mid-June. The Tigers, who had traded Rogers in 2006, promptly signed him to a contract and sent him to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. [cite news | title=Pirates Q&A with Dejan Kovacevic | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=June 11, 2008 | first=Dejan | last=Kovacevic | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08163/888835-126.stm | accessdate=2008-07-13] After posting an ERA of 7.65 in sixteen appearances the Tigers released Rogers to make room for Gary Glover. [cite news | title=Ryan overlooked among prospects | publisher="Toledo Blade" | date=2008-08-10 | accessdate=2008-08-11 | url=http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/SPORTS07/808100402]

References

External links