Jake Rogers didn't enjoy his time at the Detroit Tigers' alternate training site in Toledo last season. The 25-year-old catcher made the most of his situation — by playing daily intrasquad games — but missed the big leagues.
He watched two of his fellow prospects — Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal — make their MLB debuts in August. Rogers was "pumped" about their arrivals, but he was supposed to be the guy catching Mize's filthy splitter and Skubal's blazing fastball in the majors. Only, he never got the chance.