Taylor Rogers was among seven non-rostered pitchers invited to 2015 spring training with the Twins. How was that?
"I didn't throw in a game,'' he said. "I had a lot of [baseballs] bucket duty. I was good at that.''
Rogers went back to Class AAA Rochester, started 27 games in 28 appearances, with an 11-12 record, a 3.98 ERA and 174 innings. Throw in six starts and 25 innings in the Arizona Fall League, and Rogers had more starts (33) and innings (199) in 2015 than any pitcher in the organization.
This earned Rogers a place on the 40-man roster in 2016. He pitched 7 2/3 innings in six exhibition appearances.
"The first one, against Boston, was horrible,'' Rogers said. "I didn't give up a run in the other five.''
Manager Paul Molitor and pitching coach Neil Allen started to express the opinion that Rogers' future could be as a reliever. Before last spring, 85 of Rogers' 92 minor league appearances had been as a starter.
Rogers was sent to minor leagues on March 23, but then was involved in the first of the endless pitching moves the Twins would make in the lost season of 2016.
Glen Perkins went on the disabled list, where he remained all season, on April 13 and the left-handed Rogers was recalled. He pitched only once before returning to Rochester on April 19.