With surprise September, Rogers earned shot in 2022

PLAYER REVIEW: JOSH ROGERS

Age on opening day 2022: 27

How acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, June 2021

MLB service time: 1 year, 1 day

2021 salary: $570,500

Contract status: Under team control, arbitration-eligible in 2024, free agent in 2027

2021 stats: 2-2, 3.28 ERA, 6 GS, 0 CG, 35 2/3 IP, 32 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 7 HR, 14 BB, 22 SO, 2 HBP, 1.290 WHIP, 124 ERA+, 5.83 FIP, 0.0 fWAR, 0.8 bWAR

Quotable: "He's been awesome. He's been an unbelievable teammate. Fun to be around. Really enjoys doing what he does, and that's to pitch and compete. I couldn't ask for anything more. He got up here, and he worked hard to get back up to the big leagues. He showed us that he wants to be here. It's going to be a conversation this winter. He's going to come to spring training, and he's going to fight for a job." - manager Davey Martinez

2021 analysis: When Josh Rogers was released by the Orioles only four Triple-A outings into his return from Tommy John surgery, little could he have foreseen how (and where) his season would end. Signed by the Nationals in June to a minor league contract, the left-hander reported to Rochester and pitched fairly well over 14 games (13 starts) with a 7-3 record and 3.70 ERA. Then came the opportunity he never saw coming.

The Nats, needing a fill-in starter for a Sept. 4 doubleheader game against the Mets, summoned Rogers because his pitching schedule lined up well. Then he rocked, kicked and fired his way through 5 2/3 impressive innings to earn the win in his debut and earn more opportunities to pitch in D.C.

In his six starts, Rogers allowed more than three runs only once. He pounded the strike zone (64 percent of the time). And he worked with a pace and energy that seemed to rub off on everyone in the park, making him an instantly likable lefty on a rebuilding team that sorely needed a boost down the stretch of a lost season.

2022 outlook: Nobody would've predicted on Sept. 1 that Rogers would be in the mix for a rotation spot next spring, but here we are. It's a small sample of work, to be sure, but what he did show in that limited amount of time - and given how few sure things the Nationals have from a pitching standpoint right now - there's no question he deserves a shot to compete in West Palm Beach.

Rogers won't be assured of anything. He'll probably be in competition with several others for one of the last spots in the rotation. And though he'll need to duplicate what he did in September - working fast, throwing strikes, keeping his defense on its toes - there are some areas for improvement as well, if he wants to ensure he makes it and then sticks at the big league level.

Though fastball command is his calling card, Rogers needs multiple effective off-speed pitches to have success over the longer haul. He seemed to trust his slider most this season, and the pitch was effective, with opponents hitting only .225 off it. But his less-used changeup was even more effective: Opponents hit just .158 off it. That pitch, breaking down and away to right-handed hitters, could be the difference for Rogers.