Taylor Rogers knew he wanted to return to Minnesota, to the organization that gave him his start in professional baseball. So when Derek Shelton was hired as Twins manager a month into the offseason, the veteran southpaw thought to himself, “Ah, even better.”
Shortly thereafter, the Twins added LaTroy Hawkins to the coaching staff, and Rogers was more than sold on the idea of coming back.
The Twins didn’t express their interest quite as quick. But once they did, a deal came together quickly to bring the reliever back on a one-year deal.
The version of Rogers that’s returning isn’t the same as the one who was shipped away just before Opening Day in 2022.
“I just think I’m different like anybody from their 20s to their 30s,” said Rogers, now 35.
Before the surprising trade, Rogers was a hard-throwing closer who had converted 30 in 2019 and was coming off an all-star season that was cut short by a finger injury.
He has since bounced around, with stops in San Diego, Milwaukee, San Francisco (where he got to play with his twin brother, Tyler), Cincinnati and Chicago. He has lost some velocity as he has aged, but he gained some veteran know-how along the way.
“I think it’s realizing that day if it’s ripping pretty good, you’re like ‘Alright, I can kind of be like my old self,’ ” Rogers said. “If it’s just not coming out as good, then you know it quicker and adjust like that. You’ve got to be more flexible to the day to day instead of just knowing what you’re going to be like.”
As he navigates a different stage in his career, Rogers, who finished last year with a 3.38 earned-run average across 50 2/3 innings, has someone beside him now that has been there, done that. Hawkins, the Twins’ new bullpen coach, has 21 years of major league experience and appeared in 1,042 career games, putting him 10th in all-time games pitched. Put simply, he got the most out of his career.
“I don’t want to get his head too big, but it’s kind of like getting to talk to Warren Buffett,” Rogers said. “He has done it for so long and was so successful. It’s just like I just want to see it, the day to day.”
As one of the veteran arms with closing experience — non-roster invite Liam Hendriks also has plenty of late-game experience — the Twins seem likely to rely upon Rogers early, though when they signed him, they didn’t discuss a role with him. That’s just how he wanted it.
“The conversation was ‘It’s much too early to know.’ And I agree with that,” Rogers said .”I think you’ve got to earn your spot. Even if you have a roster spot, you have to earn your spot within that.”
Twins make cuts
The Twins made a round of cuts Wednesday, reassigning six players to minor league camp. The group includes a pair of catchers — Andrew Cossetti and Ricardo Olivar — pitchers Andrew Bash, Raul Brito and Christian MacLeod, and outfielder Walker Jenkins, the Twins’ top prospect.
Jenkins’ stay in major league camp was cut short because of a hamstring strain sustained while running the bases Saturday. The 2023 first-round draft pick was limited by injuries in each of the past two springs, as well. He hasn’t played in more than 84 games as a professional because of injuries. But in between those, he has risen quickly through the minor leagues.
Jenkins hit .286 with a .850 OPS last season, reaching Triple-A at just 20 years old. While he wasn’t expected to break camp with the major league team, it’s certainly possible he could force the issue at some point later in the season. The Twins now have 59 active players remaining in major league camp.
Ryan update
Joe Ryan threw live batting practice Wednesday to some of his teammates, another step in the right direction for the starter who was slowed early in camp by back inflammation. Should all continue to go well, Ryan is likely to appear in a spring training game soon.
Because of his back, Ryan is not pitching for the United States in World Baseball Classic pool play, but he is part of the designated pitcher pool and could potentially join the roster at a later point. Team USA, which features Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, will kick off WBC play on Friday against Brazil (7 p.m., KMSP Ch. 9).
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