On August 27, 2019, Taylor Rogers secured his 21st save of the season during a Minnesota Twins victory over the Chicago White Sox. Immediately afterward, inside the White Sox stadium on Chicago’s South Side, Rogers stood in front of a television to watch his twin brother, Tyler Rogers, make his Major League Baseball debut for the San Francisco Giants.
Tyler pitched a flawless 1-2-3 inning in a narrow Giants loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, marking the end of his seven-year journey through the minor leagues before reaching the majors.
“I was probably the most excited person on planet earth right there.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
The Road Back to Minnesota and a New Role
Now 35 years old, Taylor Rogers recently signed a one-year, $2 million contract to return to the Twins for the upcoming season. Although no longer serving as the team’s closer and pitching a bit slower than earlier in his career, Rogers vividly recalls that special day when his brother made his debut.
“I remember it vividly. I got the save that day. We came back in. [Senior Director of Team Travel] Mike Herman was more excited than I was. He had it up on the TVs in the White Sox clubhouse.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
“If I remember right, Derek Shelton held the buses.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
Derek Shelton, recently hired as the Twins’ manager, was the bench coach during that 2019 season and has since stepped into the top leadership position. Shelton replaced Rocco Baldelli, who took over from a Minnesota baseball legend, Paul Molitor, just as the Twins sought to rebuild after losing 84 games under Molitor’s final season.
From Baldelli’s Tenure to Shelton’s Leadership
Under Baldelli’s guidance, the Twins transformed dramatically. The team set a major league record with 307 home runs and won 101 games in his first year. Minnesota made the playoffs three times in five seasons and in 2023 won their first postseason series since 2002.
Despite this success, ownership drastically reduced Minnesota’s payroll by $30 million entering the 2024 season. The lack of depth contributed to a disappointing 2024 season, triggering a roster shakeup and a managerial change. Baldelli was replaced by Shelton, while executives like Falvey were also held accountable for the team’s decline.
One positive outcome from Shelton’s hiring was persuading Taylor Rogers to return to the Twins, the team where he began his major league career.
“I told Shelton on the phone that if he was managing a team in Fargo, North Dakota, I would want to go there.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
Working with Experienced Coaches and Aging Gracefully
Rogers also expressed enthusiasm about joining new Twins bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins, a veteran reliever with 21 seasons of major league experience. Hawkins provided Rogers with informal guidance during his first stint with Minnesota, emphasizing the importance of adapting as players age.
Rogers noted the shift from relying solely on raw talent to harnessing experience and knowledge to maintain performance late in a career.
“How do you continue to advance when you’re at the latter part of your career? He may have done that.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
Twins’ Draft History and Rogers Brothers’ Beginnings
Minnesota selected Taylor Rogers in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB draft after he played college baseball at the University of Kentucky. A year later, the Giants drafted his twin brother Tyler in the 10th round out of Austin Peay. Although both played college ball in the South, they graduated from Chatfield High School in Littleton, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.
Taylor made his MLB debut in 2016, gradually establishing himself as Minnesota’s closer by 2019 with 30 saves, and earned his first and only All-Star appearance in 2021.
Trades, Transitions, and Moments of Closure
Before the 2022 season, the Twins traded Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker to the San Diego Padres for Emilio Pagán and Chris Paddack. The trade did not turn out well for Minnesota, as Rooker underperformed in San Diego but later thrived as an All-Star with Oakland.
“You couldn’t really say bye. There was closure at some point. I never really thought that coming back would be an option. Now that it is, it’s incredible.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
Rogers posted a negative WAR with the Padres before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Josh Hader. After finishing that season with Milwaukee, Rogers signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Giants, where he spent two seasons playing alongside his brother Tyler.
“It was so cool. We never even thought it was going to be possible. I just got to do two years with him. That was the best.”
?Taylor Rogers, Twins Pitcher
Full Circle: Returning to Minnesota for Likely Final MLB Season
Now, a year after playing alongside his brother, Taylor Rogers is back in Minnesota with Derek Shelton as manager—the same coach who stopped the buses in 2019 so Taylor could watch Tyler’s debut. This return marks a full-circle moment as Rogers likely approaches the final season of his major league career.
Instead of heading to a minor league assignment in Fargo, North Dakota, Rogers will take the mound once again for the Twins at Target Field, embracing a renewed chapter under familiar leadership and mentorship.
Really special moment in the #MNTwins clubhouse tonight.
Taylor watching twin brother Tyler make his @MLB debut with the @SFGiants shortly after he recorded a save for the @Twins pic.twitter.com/EkPKpPGflf
— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) August 28, 2019
