Tigers C Rogers ‘pushing to be back’ in 2022 after Tommy John surgery
Tigers catcher Jake Rogers says he is “crushing” physical therapy.
The 26-year-old, eight weeks removed from Tommy John surgery, is making progress, but won’t start throwing until the end of February. He had the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow repaired by Dr. Keith Meister on Sept. 8, after landing on the injured list July 19 with arm soreness.
“I was pretty frustrated,” Rogers said Monday. “I hate to miss time. I’ve never really missed time. I pride myself on being out there and being ready. I don’t want to be the guy that’s hurt. That was the frustrating part for me, just wanting to play . ... Everything was falling into place, and then this happened.”
The injury and subsequent surgery occurred at the worst possible moments.
“Jake Rogers was doing tremendous,” Tigers general manager Al Avila said Oct. 5, after the team finished with a 77-85 record. “AJ and (quality control coach) Josh Paul did a great job. We were so encouraged about the future with him, in combination with (Eric) Haase. Now he’s not going to be here to play next year, for the most part. That leaves us with an area of concern.”
He attends physical therapy four times per week, currently focused on strengthening his shoulder and forearm and working out his healthy lower body. Using his upper body to lift light weights won’t happen for another two weeks in what he expects to be an 11-13 month recovery. The estimated timetable projects him to be game-ready in August, September or October.
“I’m pushing to be back next year,” Rogers said. “There is no way of me knowing whether I could or not, but I’m not going to rule it out. I’m just putting my nose on the grindstone and working hard to get back as soon as possible. As soon as possible might not be next year, but in my head, I’m getting ready to play next year and getting my mind ready, so if I can, I’m going to.”
How it happened
The Tigers were preparing to play the Rangers on July 19 at Comerica Park when Rogers approached Haase, then the backup catcher, to reveal a newfound problem with his throwing arm. He had “felt a pop” in his elbow, which “happened out of nowhere,” while long-tossing as part of his pregame routine.
“I finished throwing, but it hurt pretty bad,” Rogers said. “I didn’t really say anything. It hurt, but I didn’t want to be the first guy to be
like, oh, this is bad. But in the back of my head, it was like, oh, crap.”
That day, the Tigers placed Rogers on the injured list and phoned Dr. Meister, the head team physician for the Rangers and a wellknown orthopedic surgeon. (Meister conducted Michael Fulmer’s Tommy John surgery in March 2019.) After reviewing the MRI on Rogers’ elbow, Meister suggested four weeks of rehab as a precaution. He wasn’t sure if Rogers needed surgery, so he didn’t want to propose the career-altering procedure unless it was necessary. The inevitable, though, became unavoidable.
“Once I made the decisions to get surgery and who I was getting surgery with, I put it behind me and focused on getting my arm better and stronger,” Rogers said. “There were a few moments of frustration. I really wanted to play and be out there with the guys. But once everything settled and my thoughts gathered, it was like, let’s get this behind me and move forward.”
Reflecting, looking ahead
Despite the injury, Rogers solidified himself in the Tigers’ plans moving forward.
He started the 2021 season in Triple-A Toledo, but the Tigers promoted him in early May for his second-career stint in the big leagues. The first go-around was nothing short of a disaster, as Rogers hit just .125 with subpar defense across 35 games in 2019. He then spent the entire 2020 season at the alternate training site because minor leagues were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entering Rogers’ May 8 return, the Tigers had the worst record in baseball at 9-24 overall.
“When I got called up, I went and told AJ, ‘All
right, now we go. Let’s get the boys back on track’” Rogers said. “I pride myself on being a good guy and a good teammate. I told him, ‘I’m going to bring good vibes and we’re going to start winning.’ He was like, ‘All right, let’s do it.’ It just happened to work out that way.”
The Tigers went 34-27 from May 8 until July 18, which was Rogers’ final game of the season. He posted a .239 batting average, five doubles, three triples, six home runs, 17 RBIs, 11 walks and 46 strikeouts over his 38 games.
Rogers made defensive strides, too, allowing just three passed balls and making one error over 3102⁄3 innings behind the plate. His defense, which had been lacking, was the main reason Rogers had been considered a top prospect since the Astros drafted him No. 97 overall in 2016.
Now that Rogers is sidelined and working back from Tommy John surgery, the next checkpoint in his progression should happen in Lakeland, Florida, home of the Tigers’ spring training facility, where he plans to show face in late January or early February.
Rogers believes he is on track to train with weighted balls upon his arrival to camp, which should lead to throwing a baseball in late February.
“I always want to go out there and show them what I got,” Rogers said. “I want to be up with those guys to win. I still have some things to prove in order to stay up there and make a name for myself. I’m really never comfortable. There’s always guys they can sign. So I just want to keep my name hot and keep them wanting me to play every day.
“I’m working my butt off to get back and help the Tigers win.”
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