The description sounds like the main character in a horror movie, but Trevor Rogers means it in the best possible way.
The Orioles made extensive changes to their coaching staff under new manager Craig Albernaz, but they brought back pitching coach Drew French, assistant Mitch Plassmeyer and pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek.
Rogers, whose career was resurrected in 2025, regards them as the separator from other organizations.
“It’s kind of like a three-headed monster,” he said.
Let him explain.
“If I want to talk to French about game planning, if I started yesterday, looking back at the game, breaking stuff down,” Rogers said on the “Orioles Hot Stove Show” on WBAL Radio. “If I want some pitch strategy, I go to Klim and we talk shop there. And mechanical stuff, Mitch is pretty dialed in on the mechanical work. So it’s just a three-headed monster.”
Nothing scary about Rogers’ season, which concluded with a 1.81 ERA, 0.903 WHIP and 5.5 bWAR in 18 starts, the Most Valuable Oriole award and a fifth-place Cy Young vote.
“They all do a great job,” Rogers said. “It was a blessing in disguise getting traded over here. Obviously didn’t start the way any of us wanted it to, but being where we are now and working with those three guys, they’ve helped me more than they’d probably ever realize.”
Rogers is tracking the offseason roster moves and definitely approves of the Shane Baz trade with the Rays and re-signing friend Zach Eflin.
“I think it’s a bunch of horses really,” he said. “I was really excited to get Baz. He has some of the most elite stuff in baseball. Eflin, a veteran that, when he gets going, he can give you seven or eight innings of quality baseball.”
The rotation isn’t set as long as president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias is negotiating, but it’s looking pretty deep.
“Dean Kremer, he’s just a horse,” Rogers said. “He eats innings. He gives us a chance every day. And (Kyle) Bradish, it’s some of the most electric stuff I’ve ever seen. Just to be a part of that group is really special and I’m really fired up to just compete with those guys and hopefully win a spot once camp is over.”
* Brett Hollander ran his “fun five baseball questions” past Rogers to conclude the interview.
Rogers’ favorite baseball movie?
“The Benchwarmers,” he said.
I had to plead ignorant. Never heard of it.
Research shows that it’s a 2006 comedy starring Jon Lovitz, Rob Schneider, David Space, Jon Heder, Nick Swardson and Dennis Dugan (who also directed.) It received an 11 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“A baseball-loving millionaire (Jon Lovitz) helps three inept nerds (David Spade, Rob Schneider, Jon Heder) form a baseball team to compete with the meanest bullies in the Little League. One of the trio becomes the hero of nerds everywhere, until his fans learn that he was once a bully, too.”
That’s all I’m sharing. I don’t want to ruin it for you.
I’m forever a “Bull Durham” and “Eight Men Out” guy, but I respect all opinions.
* Another question for Rogers involved one of his talents outside of baseball.
His answer makes me want to arrange a demonstration on MASN in spring training, but his contract might not allow it. Too much of an injury risk.
“I wouldn’t say so much anymore,” he said, “but I was a pretty avid pogo sticker back in my early days.”
A career that’s had its ups and down reached unprecedented heights in 2025.
* Gunnar Henderson finished fourth on MLB Network’s “Top 10 Shortstops Right Now,” after Bobby Witt Jr., Corey Seager and Francisco Lindor. Mookie Betts was fifth.
Henderson was asked at the Birdland Caravan whether he tries to forget about a difficult 2025 season or use it as a motivator.
“Obviously, we didn’t start the way that we wanted to last year, but I feel like we played pretty good ball down the stretch,” he replied. “It’s obviously a new year, new faces in the clubhouse, still a lot of the same in there. I feel like we’re looking forward to meshing and getting ready for this season and, ultimately, getting back to what we’re good at, and that’s winning ballgames.”