Possessing an array of pitches, including an overpowering fastball, lanky lefthander Trevor Rogers of Carlsbad High School is regarded as one of the top prep pitchers in the country.
Major league scouts love Rogers’ size (6-6, 185 pounds), his free-flowing, smooth delivery, his lively fastball that touches the mid-90’s and the potential of his off-speed and breaking pitches.
“Rogers throws from a slightly lower three-quarters arm slot. He is well-balanced over the rubber and projects for command,” Baseball America wrote about Rogers in February. “His off-speed stuff is still a work in progress, but some scouts believe he will develop an above-average breaking ball as he matures.”
NMPreps Baseball Message Board
After a sensational senior season for the Cavemen in which he compiled an impeccable 11-0 record and microscopic 0.33 ERA with 134 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 63.1 innings, Rogers has seemingly boosted his draft stock.
Two of the foremost MLB draft experts in the country – Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and John Manual of Baseball America – both project Rogers going to Kansas City with the No. 14 overall pick in the first round.
“There is a good chance Rogers goes before the Royals' pick (at No. 14), but Kansas City certainly would be interested if the left-hander's upside was available here,” Mayo wrote Thursday in the latest edition of his mock draft.
Perfect Game also projects Rogers going No. 14 to the Royals, so three of the best-known sites covering high school and college baseball are unanimous in their assessment of Rogers’ draft status.
Top 5 Baseball Underclassmen for 2018
According to MLB.com, the projected “value” of the No. 14 pick (amount of the signing bonus) is $3.73 million.
However, Mayo hinted Rogers, who has signed with Texas Tech and could pitch in college if he doesn’t agree to financial terms by the deadline with the team that drafts him, could get chosen as early as the No. 7 pick by Arizona.
Either way, Rogers is assured of earning a seven-figure signing bonus.
The 2017 MLB Draft begins Monday, June 12 and lasts three days. The first round will be televised live on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com. The final two days (Rounds 2-40) will be streamed on MLB.com.
Related: La Cueva Captures 6A Title | Goddard wins the 5A Title | Portales holds off Hope for the 4A state title
