Anyone else remember that 2021 Miami Marlins team? Very few do because they won 67 games, but they had one of the most promising young starting rotations in all of baseball that season. Headlined by a soon-to-be Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, Miami also had a young Pablo Lopez, Zach Thompson, Jesus Luzardo, and of course, Trevor Rogers.
Rogers, who was 23 years old at the time, placed second in the Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star Game seemingly out of nowhere. He was baseball's next star lefty, but then back spasms, lat issues, and bicep injuries kept his time on the field limited. And when he pitched, it was not even close to his breakout season in 2021.
But then in 2025, with a new team in the Baltimore Orioles, Rogers found himself again. In 18 starts, Rogers bolstered a 1.81 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP across 109.2 innings. Now at 28 years old, Rogers is hoping to find a second wave to his career. He made that clear in 2025.
Rogers will begin the 2026 season once again with the Orioles. He was announced as the team's Opening Day starter this week, which will be against the Minnesota Twins. For a team with a solid amount of left-handed hitters, that could spell trouble for the Twins.
Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers gets the ball vs. Minnesota Twins on Opening Day
For starters, the most intimidating thing surrounding Rogers for Twins fans is that he has never pitched against Minnesota in his career, which includes spring training games. A 6-foot-5 left-hander who throws a nasty changeup is already dangerous, but for the Twins to have never seen him before adds to his mystique. Plus, going by how he performed last year, Rogers is going to be locked in from the start to ensure he doesn't lose his spot in the rotation.
Among what is projected to be a strong lineup, Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner will be two hitters to watch in this game for Minnesota. Both left-handed hitters, they struggle against the southpaws. For Wallner's career, he is a .181 hitter with a 34.6% strikeout rate. Larnach isn't much better, hitting .216 off lefties with a 34.5% strikeout rate. Maybe one of these guys sits on Opening Day for another outfielder who is mashing this spring?
It will be an interesting start to the 2026 campaign for Minnesota. It's never fun to face a good left-hander, never mind one who is completely unknown to the Twins' organization.