BALTIMORE -- He’s the frontrunner to win the 2025 Most Valuable Oriole Award. He’s a strong candidate to be named the American League Comeback Player of the Year. And he could even earn some down-ballot consideration for the AL Cy Young Award.
It’s been that impressive of a season for Trevor Rogers, who has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball for the past three months.
Rogers made his penultimate start of the 2025 campaign on Friday night at Camden Yards, where he tossed six scoreless innings of one-hit ball in the Orioles’ 4-2 win over the Yankees. The southpaw had seven strikeouts and two walks during the 106-pitch outing, with New York’s lone hit coming via Austin Wells’ leadoff single in the sixth.
The Yanks entered the day with an MLB-best .790 OPS against lefties. Their vaunted lineup still couldn’t solve Rogers, who lowered his ERA to 1.35 through 17 starts.
Just another day at the office for Rogers at this point.
“It kind of seems that way at times,” Rogers said with a grin. “But I’m just happy that I can continue to stay consistent.”
Those who have followed Rogers’ season closely know how special he’s been to watch. But let’s revisit exactly how special:
- Rogers’ ERA is the best by a Baltimore starter through 17 starts in team history (since 1954), besting the previous mark of 1.56 set by Hall of Famer Jim Palmer in 1975.
- Rogers’ run of 15 consecutive starts allowing two or fewer runs is the longest in O’s history and the longest by any pitcher across MLB this season. It’s the longest streak within a single season by any pitcher since Mariners legend Félix Hernández did it in 17 straight in 2014.
- The only AL/NL pitcher to record an ERA of 1.35 or better while pitching at least 100 innings in a season is Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who had a 1.12 ERA in 304 2/3 innings for the 1968 Cardinals. Rogers (106 2/3 innings) could join Gibson if his ERA doesn’t go up in his final start, which may come next weekend at Yankee Stadium.
“He’s been unbelievable. Just feels like every time he steps out there, it’s six, seven [innings], one run, no runs. It’s unbelievable,” said designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle, who homered and drove in a pair of runs. “He’s been great. Great teammate, great guy, too. He’s been pitching really good. It’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Has Rogers allowed himself to check out any of the stats connecting him to some of the all-time greats?
“I’m hearing the buzz around it, but I’m really just trying to keep my bubble really small,” Rogers said. “My wife [Tessa] probably has the whole list [of stats], and we agreed that once the season’s over, she’s going to tell me everything. But until then, just staying focused during my process day to day, and just try to go out there and compete.”
It’s hard to argue against Rogers’ case for Most Valuable Oriole in a down season for the O’s (73-81), as he leads the club in bWAR. The only other true candidate is Gunnar Henderson, who ranks first on the team in most offensive categories.
Rogers’ bounce-back tale is certainly one worthy of AL Comeback Player of the Year consideration. A National League All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year runner-up with the Marlins in 2021, he saw his career derailed midway through ‘24. At that time, he was traded from Miami to Baltimore ahead of the Trade Deadline, then posted a 7.11 ERA in four starts for the O's.
Rogers was then optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. He opened the 2025 campaign on the injured list due to a right knee subluxation, then returned to Norfolk, where he pitched for most of the first two-plus months of the season before getting an opportunity to rejoin the Orioles’ staff on a full-time basis in mid-June.
Now, Rogers is an ace who has entered the Cy Young conversation and is expected to lead Baltimore’s rotation heading into 2026.
“I probably told you a few starts ago, 'You're waiting for the other shoe to drop, the other foot to drop.' I don't think we're waiting anymore,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “I think this is kind of what he is and what he used to be, and I think he got his body healthy.”
While Rogers did a lot of the work to get his career back on track, he’s been quick to credit the coaches and staff who helped him do so.
“Just thankful the Orioles have helped me turn my career around,” Rogers said. “I can go on and on about how much they’ve helped me and what this organization means to me. But at the end of the day, I’m just happy that I can be consistent and continue to help this team win games and finish strong.”