SF Giants veteran reliever is the best in key statcast metric since debut

Veteran SF Giants reliever Tyler Rogers does not throw hard or record a lot of strikeouts. However, he is the best pitcher in baseball at inducing soft contact.

SF Giants veteran reliever is the best in key statcast metric since debut

Rogers does a lot of things that brings value to the Giants. He is extremely durable, has exceptional command, and keeps the ball on the ground.

All of these factors are why Rogers is such a key reliever in the Giants bullpen and part of the reason why he is so effective. Of course, it is impossible to ignore his submarine-style delivery that gives his fastball and slider unique movement.

Despite below-average fastball velocity, he is still able to get weak contact better than any pitcher in baseball. Since 2019, his average exit velocity allowed is 84.8 MPH, better than every pitcher with a minimum of 300 innings pitched. This is a group that consists of 219 pitches and Rogers is at the top. Ryan Yarbrough is just a tick behind Rogers at 84.9 MPH.

It is one thing to keep the ball on the ground, which Rogers does better than most with a 55.5 career ground ball rate. Fellow teammate Logan Webb is ahead him in that category with a 57.3 percent ground ball rate. It is a different trait altogether to keep the ball on the ground and induce weak contact.

It usually makes it easier on the infielders. At times, it can lead to some funky contact that find holes in the defense, but that is more the exception than the rule with Rogers.

The 34-year-old pitcher has been so reliable for the Giants since he debuted in 2019. While the bullpen has gone through some changes, he remains one of the manager's top options in leverage situations.

The character of the bullpen might look a little different this year with Taylor Rogers being shipped to the Cincinnati Reds last month. However, that unit could have some quietly nice depth. The Giants will still be counting on Rogers to get the big outs with his unique delivery that is just tough for opposing hitters to pick up.