ST. LOUIS — For Tigers catcher Jake Rogers, timing couldn’t have been better.
Rogers was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, just in time to reunite with close friend and starting pitcher Tarik Skubal for the second game of a three-game series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Rogers slotted into the lineup as the ninth batter.
“\[Skubal] texted me last night and said, ‘What a treat,’” Rogers said. “So, I’m excited, and it’s good to catch him again and just to be around the guys.”
Rogers had been out of action since April 8 after suffering a left oblique strain during pregame batting practice, when he felt a pull in his side.
“Getting him back today is good,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We wanted him back as soon as we felt he was good and ready to go. And once he completed a full game \[with Triple-A Toledo] on Sunday, we targeted the back end of this series.”
Rogers impressed during his rehab stint with the Mud Hens, batting .333 over four games.
“I felt good down there,” Rogers said. “That was one thing — get at-bats — but also get your timing back.”
“Love the guy, love the teammate,” Hinch said. “Love what he did for us. He now enters this unknown on whether he’s going to be with us or if he’s going to get another opportunity somewhere else. I hope, selfishly, that we can find a way to keep him just because he’s a part of everything, knows our pitching staff, and I trust him a ton.”
Hinch’s comments reflect both his admiration for Rogers and the uncertainty surrounding the roster situation, highlighting the value the catcher brings beyond the stat sheet.
