The Houston Astros promoted right-hander Brady Rodgers to the major league roster for the September stretch run. Rodgers had an excellent season in Triple-A and was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year, posting a 12-4 record in 22 starts with a 2.86 ERA, 132 inning with a 116/23 K/BB. He made his MLB debut over the weekend and gave up five hits and five runs in two-thirds of an inning, but more chances should follow. Let's take a look.
Brady Rodgers was drafted by the Astros in the third round in 2012 from Arizona State University. He showed outstanding control in college, posting a 225/35 K/BB in 271 innings (with a 2.46 ERA) over three seasons. Control has remained his best attribute in professional baseball: he has a 459/102 K/BB in 559 career innings, for an impressive BB/9 ratio of 1.64.
Until this season his ERAs and FIPs in pro ball were over 4.00, including last year in the Pacific Coast League (4.51 in 116 frames); this year he cut off run production substantially. The ERA overstates things a bit and he had some luck on his side this year, but his FIP was still very respectable at 3.20, especially by PCL standards.
Rodgers is 6-2, 210, born September 17, 1990. As you'd expect from his statistical profile, he doesn't have blazing velocity, topping at 93 at his best and working more generally in the 88-90 range. He has a full arsenal with a slider, curve, and change at his disposal. The slider and change get some 55 grades and everything played up this year due to his command and control.
Long-term, Rodgers projects as a fourth starter, a strike-thrower who can eat innings, perhaps similar to current Astro Mike Fiers or Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker.
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