Tigers' catcher has an incredible knuckleball — could he become a pitcher?
TL;DR
Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers showcases an impressive knuckleball when pitching during blowout games. This raises the question of whether he could transition to a full-time pitcher.
Key points
- Jake Rogers is a catcher for the Detroit Tigers.
- He occasionally pitches during blowout games.
- Rogers throws an impressive knuckleball.
- Knuckleball pitchers are rare in modern MLB.
Tigers' catcher has an incredible knuckleball — could he become a pitcher? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
MLB is better when there are knuckleball pitchers, but right now, that's pretty much a lost art.
Well, except for Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers.
Rogers obviously doesn't pitch regularly, but he does take the mound when the Tigers are getting clobbered.
And when he does that, he throws a legitimately impressive knuckleball:
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The 31-year old Rogers is a career .199 hitter. He's regarded as a solid defensive catcher, but he's a career-long backup.
It'd be a bold move to abandon catching, and there's no sense that he's actually going to do so.
But could he pull it off?
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Rogers has made six MLB pitching appearances and has a 4.76 ERA in 5.2 innings. He doesn't just throw knuckleballs in those outings, so that's not totally indicative of what he could be like -- and it's clearly a small sample size in weird game scenarios of blowouts.
It'd be a big commitment and change for Rogers to decide he was going to become a knuckleball pitcher.
But for baseball fans, it'd be fun. Rogers should do it for the rest of us.
More MLB news:
Q&A
Can Jake Rogers pitch regularly for the Tigers?
Jake Rogers primarily plays catcher but has pitched during games when the Tigers are losing significantly.
What makes Jake Rogers' knuckleball impressive?
Rogers' knuckleball is noted for its effectiveness and has drawn attention despite his limited pitching experience.
Why are knuckleball pitchers rare in MLB today?
Knuckleball pitching is considered a lost art in MLB, with fewer players mastering the technique in recent years.
