How the Blue Jays could deploy Tyler Rogers in 2026

"Rogers is atypical of a modern reliever in many ways. He doesn't throw hard, averaging 83.5 m.p.h. with his sinker and 74.1 m.p.h. with his slider last season. Both were the slowest of their kind in MLB. Because he doesn't have electric stuff by way of velocity or movement, he doesn't strike batters out. Rogers' 16.1% strikeout rate ranked in the eighth percentile. And of course, the strangest aspect of all is his minus-61-degree arm angle, the lowest in baseball by far. (Hoby Milner's minus-4-degree slot is the second lowest, and the only other to come in at a negative angle.)"

"But this wildly awkward-looking delivery is Rogers' greatest strength. Blue Jays fans became familiar with the havoc an unorthodox arm angle can cause when they watched phenom Trey Yesavage carve up opposing lineups through September and October. While he achieves his results in a vastly different way, Rogers is also remarkably effective thanks to the deceptiveness of his delivery. He's the only pitcher who throws "underhanded" in MLB. Hitters just aren't used to it; it makes for an uncomfortable plate appearance."

"The most prominent drivers of Rogers' success are his sky-high ground ball rates and ability to induce weak contact. Of the balls hit in play against Rogers last season, 61.6% were on the ground, a 98th percentile mark. His 85.8 m.p.h. average exit velocity was 99th percentile, his 2.1%-barrel rate 100th. w He allowed only five barrels last season (tied for the least among relivers with at least 60 innings pitched). Hitters simply don't square him up often. Rogers also rarely walks hitters - he's posted a 100th percentile walk rate each of the last two seasons. It all came together to produce a 1.98 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 77.1 innings."

Toronto Blue Jays signed submarine reliever Tyler Rogers, creating unique deployment options for 2026. Rogers averages an 83.5 mph sinker and a 74.1 mph slider, the slowest of their kinds in MLB, and posts a 16.1% strikeout rate in the eighth percentile. He throws from a minus-61-degree arm angle, the most extreme in baseball, which adds deception and discomfort for hitters. Rogers generates a 61.6% ground-ball rate, a 99th-percentile 85.8 mph average exit velocity, and a 2.1% barrel rate. He issues very few walks and produced a 1.98 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 77.1 innings.

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