Conversations with the Herd: Grant Rogers

By: Brian Frank

Grant Rogers might be firing pitches with his right arm at Sahlen Field these days—but, incredibly, he used to pitch left-handed.

"I was pitching (right-handed) in my Little League championship game—and I was a big kid—I was 11, throwing maybe, like, 75 (mph). My elbow cracked, or something popped, and I went and got a first look—they said something I can't even remember. I went and got a second opinion. The guy said, just rest a year and you'll be fine. I rested about eight months, and something still felt off. I went to another doctor, and the whole eight months I had a piece of bone floating in my elbow. He took that out, got surgery, and he told me there was a low percentage chance of it going back and me pitching again”

Faced with the possibility that his days on the diamond were over, Rogers improvised.

“I was like, you know what, I'm just going to play as much as I can,” he remembered. “So, I started playing left-handed. I really wish I would have kept up with it, but it was just a lot."

The Texas native began pitching and playing the outfield left-handed. Eventually, he healed from his injury and returned to throwing right-handed.

At 6'7", Rogers is an imposing figure on the mound. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

After graduating from Port Neches-Groves High School, Rogers attended Panola Community College, where he made 22 starts over two seasons.

"They say JUCO is a grind, and let me tell you, it's a grind," Rogers said. "Getting up at 5 a.m. doing your workouts, gets you ready for the next level. I feel like our coaching staff at Panola, got me ready for that."

After two seasons at Panola, Rogers played a pair of seasons at McNeese State. He was the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year both seasons—but his career really took off during his second season. After going 7–4 with a 4.26 ERA during his first year with the Cowboys, Rogers was completely dominant in his second season, going 12–1 with a 1.82 ERA and a 0.936 WHIP in 15 starts.

"In January before my second year, I dropped my slot a little bit and started throwing a sinker," Rogers explained. "Ever since then, it took off. So adding that sinker was my life changer."

He was selected by the Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft.

"I had a little draft party day two and day three, because there were some talks (I might go) in day two," he recalled. "I was surrounded by my friends and my family. So it was a surreal experience. I don't think I'll ever forget it."

"My first year at McNeese, I had never talked to a scout, and the Blue Jays were the first professional team I ever talked to in my first year, and then me and Chris Curtis, the area scout at the time, we talked a lot. I got a couple texts from my agents, saying—Hey, could be this team that's coming up. Then I got a text, like, 30 seconds before the pick, and it's like—Hey, Blue Jays. I was really excited."

Rogers began his professional baseball career at Low-A Dunedin in 2024. He posted a 4.26 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) before being promoted to High-A Vancouver for six starts, where he finished with a 3.11 ERA.

"There were definitely a bunch of ups and downs, just growing pains trying to figure out what kind of pitcher I am and what kind of pitcher I want to be," he said of his 2024 season. "But I think it really set what I can be and what I want to be."

He began last season at Vancouver, where he had a 1.82 ERA in eight starts with 39 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings pitched. He was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire in mid-May, where he had a 4.07 ERA in 20 starts. His 110 2/3 innings pitched at New Hampshire, combined with his innings at Vancouver, gave him 150 1/3 innings pitched for the season.

"I'd say just staying healthy and sticking to routines," he said of what stood out about the '25 season. "I had a really good trainer, Matt Beauregard, he helped me out a lot last year, and I think it helped me get my goal. My goal was 150 innings last year, and that was a big jump from (111 2/3 IP) the year before. So I think it was just giving my team a chance to win, getting to the fifth or sixth and letting the bullpen work."

Rogers fired five shutout innings in his last start. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

His solid performance in the lower minors last year earned him this season's Opening Day start for the Bisons.

"It was surreal," he said of being tabbed to pitch the Herd's opener. "And it's a testament to what I did in the offseason, spring training, getting better every day. It was surreal because last year I started in High-A, so getting the Triple-A Opening Day start was really nice. It was amazing."

Rogers believes the biggest improvement he's made since joining the Blue Jays organization is his velocity, as well as adjusting his grip on some of his pitches.

"Not yet, so far this year, but my velo," he said of his biggest improvement. "I got up to 97 (mph) last year, so I think that it's in there—and it will be back. But just different little things with my mechanics and different grips. I call a couple coaches the grip doctors like Henry (Bisons assistant pitching coach Henry Leake) in the bullpen and (New Hampshire pitching coach) Austin Bibens-Dirkx at Double-A helped me out a lot last year. Just making me become the best ball player I can be, is what they've given me. I can't ask for much more."

This summer, the 6'7" hurler is focused on improving each outing.

"Just working on execution in bullpens,” he said. “Drew (Bisons pitching coach Drew Hayes) and I have been talking a lot about getting some better spots, getting into good counts, leverage counts. Each week it's gotten better and better. I'm just trying to get better every day."

Rogers has embraced Buffalo, already trying some top-tier wing establishments in his brief time in the Queen City.

"I tried Bar Bill Tavern… I tried Central Park Grill,” Rogers beamed. “Central Park Grill was amazing. I've got to go to Gabriel's Gate—that's what I've been told."

He hopes to attend a Sabres game during their current Stanley Cup Playoff run, and he’s already attended a Bills game, coming to last November's 28–21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium as part of a friend’s bachelor party.

"That game, the tailgate, I didn't get to jump on any tables, which I was hoping for. But other than that, I mean, the experience, the energy that Buffalo brings, is unreal.”

Between eating wings, watching the Bills, and a holding down a spot in the Bisons' starting rotation, Rogers has wasted little time making himself at home in the Queen City.