Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers and shortstop Jorge Mateo won’t be ready for Opening Day and are still rehabbing injuries. Rogers is a back-end starter who injured his right knee in January (right knee subluxation) and has faced setbacks in his recovery. According to Orioles manager Mike Elias, the 27-year-old’s return is unknown as he is delayed in his recovery process. With Mateo, he underwent an injury to his left elbow on July 23rd, 2024. Mateo had a collision with infielder Gunnar Henderson on a great play. The injury to Mateo’s elbow was severe as it bent in an awkward position when he collided with Henderson.
Jorge Mateo and Trevor Rogers won’t be ready for opening day. Rogers injured right kneecap in January #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) February 13, 2025
The 29-year-old is progressing well with his rehab following UCL surgery on his left elbow. Luckily, the surgery was performed on the elbow he doesn’t throw with. While Mateo likely won’t be ready for Opening Day, he will commence with game action in the late half of spring training. He’s expected to be off the injured list soon and, upon return, will be positioned in the utility role with the Orioles. The fact that Rogers is weeks behind schedule in his rehabbing puts a toll on the Orioles’ starting rotation. The Orioles acquired Rogers from the Miami Marlins and traded Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers in return at the trade deadline. When it comes to Orioles injuries, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. In 2024, Kyle Bradish and John Means both suffered major elbow injuries that shut down their seasons. It will also heavily impact the Orioles’ starting rotation.
Pair of Orioles Starters Not Ready for Opening Day
Uphill Battle With Rogers
Rogers’s 2024 season with the Marlins showcased struggles with a 2-11 record and a 4.92 ERA. Tomoyuki Sugano will likely take the fifth spot in the starting rotation. The Orioles rotation will also consist of Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodrigues, veteran offseason signing Charlie Morton, and Dean Kremer. But when it comes to Rogers, he can regain a spot in the rotation once he’s fully healthy. But the timetable of his return is still up in the air. In addition, Rogers will have to pitch better if he wants to earn a spot back in the rotation. In August 2024, the Orioles sent Rogers down to Triple-A after his poor performance. Rogers may benefit from spending more time in the minors to adjust his pitching mechanics and regain his velocity.
Rogers’s goal during the offseason was to boost his velocity to improve his ERA. Rogers has the potential to be a solid starter in the rotation. He showcased a solid fastball in 2021 that reached the mid-90s. The 2021 season was Trevor’s best season as he also earned his first All-Star selection with his 2.64 ERA. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been successful with replicating those numbers. In addition, his fastball last season dropped in speed, making it less effective.
Utility-Man Mateo
Mateo has played shortstop, second base, and outfield for the Orioles. But what makes him more versatile is that he has played and been utilized for his defensive skills in all outfield roles (left, right, center). What makes Mateo’s defense solid is his speed and the range he carries on the field. According to Baseball Savant, he sported an almost perfect 29.9 mph sprint speed last season. These two strong attributes also make him valuable in the infield positions at second and shortstop. Mateo will be entering his fifth season with the Orioles, who in 2022 recorded a career-high 35 stolen bases. In terms of his offense, he is known for having sporadic moments where he unleashes power. Due to his offensive inconsistencies, he’s a hitter who would be placed at the bottom of the lineup. But Mateo still provides impact with his base running while also having a fast swing.
Main Photo Credits: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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