Tyler Rogers has quickly become one of the most intriguing relief pitchers in Major League Baseball since making his debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2019. While he may not be one of the biggest names in the game, Rogers’ unique pitching style and important role on a playoff contending team the past few seasons have made him a popular player to collect for baseball card enthusiasts. Let’s take a deeper look at Tyler Rogers’ baseball career so far and analyze some of the most noteworthy cards featuring the submarine style right-hander.
Rogers was originally drafted by the Twins in the 35th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Old Dominion University but did not sign. He would then play two seasons of independent ball in the American Association before catching on with the Giants organization in 2017. Rogers worked his way through the Giants’ minor league system, posting excellent numbers as a reliever across Double-A and Triple-A. He made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2019 at age 28.
That debut season was highly impressive, as Rogers emerged as one of the Giants’ most trusted relievers thanks to his deceptive submarine delivery. He finished 2019 with a sparkling 2.61 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 73.1 innings pitched across 73 appearances. Rogers proved to be incredibly effective at inducing weak contact and keeping runners off base. His funky release point from below really threw batters off.
Rogers’ strong rookie campaign immediately made him a key figure for Giants baseball card collectors. Some notable rookie cards from 2019 include a Topps Chrome Refractor parallel (#232) and Topps Finest Refractor parallel (#152). Both capture Rogers in his Giants uniform during that breakout season. 2019 Topps Update Series also featured an action shot Autograph card (#US99) of Rogers that has become a highly sought after rookie autographed card for Giants PC builders.
Since that rookie year, Rogers has only solidified his role in the Giants bullpen. He followed up his 2019 performance by emerging as one of the top setup men in baseball in 2020. Rogers appeared in 26 games and allowed just one earned run over 19.1 innings of work for a minuscule 0.47 ERA. He continued to miss bats with strong velocity and movement on his pitches.
Rogers’ excellence in the shortened 2020 season led to some really popular cards being released featuring the unique reliever. Topps Finest highlighted Rogers with a tantalizing “On Fire” parallel(#43) insert that pictured himmid-delivery with a flaming ball effect. Topps Chrome Update Series included ahighly chased Refractor parallel(#UR130) of Rogers in Giants road gray. And Topps Opening Day hadan Autograph version(#OD-TR) of the same slick design that has become a must-have card for Giants collectors.
Now two years into his MLB career, Rogers has cemented himself as a lights-out reliever capable of getting big outs in high leverage situations. He continues answering the bell on a consistent basis for the Giants, who pushed for the NL West title in 2021. Rogers’ numbers dipped a bit last season with a 3.86 ERA, but he still struck out 82 batters in just 61.1 innings while limiting opponents to a .231 batting average.
Topps 2021 Series 1 and Series 2 both featured base rookie cards showing Rogers maintaining his effectiveness out of the Giants bullpen. But one of the real highlights was Topps Finest featuring an incredible parallel (#150) of Rogers mid-pitch with red sparkles emanating from the baseball. Along with Topps Chrome Retail Green Prizm Refractor parallel(#72), these showcase Rogers’ vibrant pitching motion in dazzling fashion.
Looking ahead, collectors will be hoping that 2022 is the year Tyler Rogers really breaks through on the national scene. If he can help carry the Giants back to the postseason and into October, some true premium memorabilia cards could emerge. But regardless of team success, Rogers’ unique submarine style ensures he will remain one of the most visually captivating pitchers in baseball cards. As long as he continues having an impact on the field for San Francisco, collectors will be seeking out some of the coolest Tyler Rogers cards around. His blend of performance and rare delivery make him a must-watch player that has translated nicely to the hobby.
