Detroit Tigers: Jake Rogers debuts his 80-grade ‘stache

As spring training gears up for the Detroit Tigers this week, the stories of ” player A is in the best shape of his life” or “player B lost weight, ready to challenge for a position ” headlines will be coming out.

What has been out recently are articles about team projections and the debates about how accurate or inaccurate they will be for the Tigers. Another string of articles are position battles in camp. It makes the time go faster before exhibition games start next week.

One position battle that comes in mind is backup catcher. There are several candidates fighting for a spot behind Wilson Ramos. One of them is Jake Rogers, who started off spring training 2020 with a noticeable change in his swing mechanics. He was hitting the ball hard and the leg kick was gone.

He never got a chance to make an appearance in Detroit in 2020 but he apparently used his time to not only work on his defense and get ready for spring training 2021 but to grow out a beard only to shave it down to a handlebar mustache. It has been causing quite a bit of stir on social media.

Jake Rogers said he had the moustache at the alternate training site in Toledo last summer, brought it back for camp after shaving his offseason beard.

"It's gotten mixed reviews," he said. "I like it. As far as my family goes, I think they don't like it." pic.twitter.com/oewDgulTqS
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) February 23, 2021

Ashley MacLennan of Bless You Boys.com nailed it in terms of what former Tigers player Rogers looks like.

Jake Rogers doing a pretty solid Todd Jones impression here. https://t.co/MTzbCL3Kx3
— Ashley MacLennan (@90feetfromhome) February 23, 2021

In regards to the reason behind the mustache, this is what he said to the press:

#Tigers catcher Jake Rogers talks about his mustache: "I'm going to carry it as long as I can. There's really no inspiration. It's mixed reviews. I like it. As far as my family goes, I don't think they like it."

About 80% of players like it, 20% don't like it. pic.twitter.com/1gYhXHiwmI
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) February 23, 2021

The fans on social media seem to favor the mustache look on Rogers. There are certainly bigger things on his mind than his mustache. His goal is to make the Tigers roster. With Franklin Perez and Daz Cameron having chances to contribute this season, this will be an opportunity for the Tigers to see the return they got for Justin Verlander contribute this season. Rogers will seize on the chance and look cool doing so.

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