Rookie Rogers undergoes UCL revision surgery
ST. PETERSBURG -- One of the young arms acquired by the Orioles in last summer’s Zack Britton trade will not pitch for at least another year. O's manager Brandon Hyde said rookie left-hander Josh Rogers underwent UCL revision surgery on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, a day after receiving a second opinion.
Dr. Keith Meister performed the operation -- essentially a second Tommy John surgery. It typically requires a 12- to 18-month recovery.
Rogers, 24, was part of the three-pitcher package the Orioles received last July from the Yankees for Britton, along with right-handers Dillon Tate and Cody Carroll. Rogers has seen the most big league innings of the bunch, pitching to a 8.65 ERA across eight games (three starts). He made five relief appearances this season before complaining of elbow soreness on June 25. The next day, he was diagnosed with a UCL strain.
A former 11th-round pick of the Yankees out of Louisville, Rogers originally had Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school in Indiana. He is the second of Baltimore's prospects acquired last summer to require the procedure this year, along with right-hander Zac Pop, who was part of the package received from the Dodgers for Manny Machado.
“I felt something in my elbow, something different,” Rogers said at the time of the diagnosis. “It’s super unfortunate and real disappointing. Hopefully I’ll be back stronger.”
All told, Rogers went 0-1 with a 8.79 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in five games this season. He had a 2-6 record and a 8.51 ERA in 11 games at Triple-A Norfolk, where Carroll has missed the entire year due to lower back issues.
Tate is the only player acquired for Britton currently healthy. The Orioles’ No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Tate, 25, is 1-3 with a 4.33 ERA this season at Double-A Bowie, where he is pitching exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time in his professional career. A converted starter, Tate pitched to a 5.75 ERA in seven starts at Bowie after last year’s trade.
More from the trainer's room
After five games with the Orioles' Gulf Coast League affiliate, DJ Stewart had his rehab assignment transferred to Double-A Bowie on Wednesday. Baltimore's No. 15 prospect, Stewart has been on the 10-day injured list since spraining his right ankle in an outfield collision on June 5. He is not expected to be reinstated until after the All-Star break, and he could be optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk when that happens.
Stewart was one of the Tides' hottest hitters before earning a promotion in late May, then went 4-for-24 (.167) over seven big league games before the injury. Anthony Santander has assumed more or less everyday duties in right field since, impressing the Orioles on both sides of the ball. With Dwight Smith Jr. in left and Stewart not a candidate to play center, his playing time could be limited unless Baltimore opts to go with a five-man bench.