Rock steady submariner Tyler Rogers a stabilizing force in the Blue Jays bullpen
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Toronto Blue Jays hard throwing, on the gas and kicking a** reliever, Louis Varland calls Tyler Rogers 'The Slim Reaper'. Here is why.
Tyler Rogers stands out as something of an outlier, a pioneer in a game dominated by high-velocity, overhand relievers who rely on overpowering stuff to beat hitters.
Instead, Rogers has built his success on deception, consistently making batters look overmatched.
That skill has been especially valuable for the Toronto Blue Jays, who opened the season 7–9 and are still waiting for key players to recover from injuries and return to the lineup.
In moments like this, the three-year, $37-million deal Toronto gave Rogers in December is proving increasingly worthwhile.
Throughout his career, he’s been a steady and reassuring presence on the mound.
So far this season, Rogers and Lazaro Estrada—a bulk reliever who has only appeared once—are the only pitchers on the roster who haven’t allowed a run.
Across 8.2 innings, Rogers has given up six hits while recording five strikeouts.
This is exactly the kind of performance the Blue Jays expected from a pitcher who, last season, led all qualified MLB pitchers in both walk rate and strike rate.
He accomplished that with the lowest release point in the majors—just 1.2 feet off the ground.
Where it all started
In a conversation with Kristina Rutherford of Sportsnet, Rogers said his unique, low-arm delivery always felt natural to him.
Earlier in his career at Garden City Community College, Rogers pitched traditionally, with a three-quarter arm slot.
That changed when he noticed a teammate using a submarine delivery and decided to give it a try.
“I’m like, ‘Sure man, whatever,’” he says. “It wasn’t like an ego hit or anything, because it was just to keep playing baseball for another two years. And it felt natural from the beginning.”
Back in 2010, when Rogers searched online for examples of similar pitchers, there wasn’t much available.
“A couple old Kent Tekulve videos,” he says of the selection, referencing Kent Tekulve, who’s now 79 years old. “But I think that’s why I like my delivery so much, because it’s mine.”
Over the past 16 years, that delivery has continued to evolve, becoming even lower and more distinctive.
Now, Rogers finds it “pretty neat” that young players interested in submarine pitching can study his mechanics online.
“I’ve just got to get my three-year-old to stop throwing sidearm,” Rogers adds, laughing. “He’s like, ‘I throw like you, Dad!’ And I’m like, ‘No, not really…”
Rogers is a leader in the Blue Jays bullpen
Rogers, who didn’t debut in MLB until age 28 with the San Francisco Giants, believes submarine pitchers remain uncommon partly because their unconventional style can make scouts hesitant.
“Looking back, it’s probably hard for a scout to say, ‘Hey, we should draft this guy, he throws mid-80s,' or whatever the case may be,” Rogers told Rutherford
Although he’s new to Toronto’s bullpen, teammates say Rogers has blended in effortlessly. He’s known for being talkative, easygoing, and quick with a joke.
He’s picked up several nicknames, including “Rog,” “Cap” (short for “Captain”), and “Slim Reaper”, a favorite of Louie Varland, a nod to Rogers’s lean frame and his effectiveness against hitters.
“He’s vocal. He’s a leader in the bullpen,” Varland says. “He’s the man.”
When Rogers reflects on what makes him reliable, his explanation is straightforward.
“I know who I am and I don’t try to get outside of that,” he says, with a shrug. “I just honestly try and be the same guy every day.”
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