Detroit Tigers: Prospects in Justin Verlander trade give team bright future

Jake Rogers

The last player involved in the deal, Jake Rogers, is a step ahead of Cameron in terms of minor league affiliates.

The backstop spent most of the 2017 campaign with Advanced-A Buies Creek.

Playing on a team that featured fellow top prospects like Perez, Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Forrest Whitley, Rogers also had a breakout campaign.

A standout defensive catcher, Rogers showed some promise at the plate in 2017.

After hitting .233 with 16 RBI, 15 extra-base hits and a .718 OPS in 186 plate appearances in Short-season A-ball and Single-A in Houston’s system during his first professional campaign, Rogers turned in a .263 average, 70 RBI, 57 extra-base hits and an .824 OPS in 483 plate appearances for Quad Cities and Buies Creek.

The catcher also showed better plate discipline as he moved from Single-A to Advanced-A this season.

Rogers lowered his strikeout rate from 24.1 to 19.6 while upping his walk percentage from 7.8 to 12.0.

You can’t judge a player purely based on stats. However, if the backstop can continue to provide some offensive production as he moves up the organizational ladder, he’ll be able to carve out a role in the Majors.

Rogers’ acquisition also gives the Tigers another catching option for the future.

At this point, the team doesn’t have too many options for long-term replacements for James McCann and John Hicks, both 27.

Grayson Greiner has made it to Triple-A, but he’s already 24.

Next: Why the Tigers should give Christin Stewart, Mike Gerber a look in 2017

Elsewhere, 2017 draftees Sam McMillan and Joey Morgan are developing in the low minors. Adding Rogers to the mix with McMillan and Morgan gives the Tigers three promising catchers to choose from down the line.