BALTIMORE -- Many would have considered the trade a loss for the Orioles as recently as May.
At the 2024 Trade Deadline, Baltimore sent outfielder Kyle Stowers and infielder Connor Norby to Miami in exchange for left-hander Trevor Rogers. Early in ‘25, Stowers was putting together an All-Star campaign and Norby was contributing, while Rogers -- who had a 7.11 ERA in four starts last year following the trade -- was still at Triple-A Norfolk, where he’d been optioned.
Now, in late September, it feels like the trade was a win for the O’s. And here’s why.
On Tuesday, Rogers was named the winner of the 2025 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award, which is voted on by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis. The 27-year-old left-hander was recognized during an on-field ceremony prior to the O's series-opening 6-0 win over the Rays at Camden Yards.
Rogers became the first pitcher to be named MVO since righty Rodrigo Lopez in 2002. Rogers is also only the fourth left-handed hurler to receive the award -- which was first handed out following the team’s first season in Baltimore in 1954 -- joining Dave McNally (‘68), Mike Cuellar (‘74) and Randy Myers (‘97).
“I’m honored just to be in the elite company that’s had this award in years past,” Rogers said. “Just the entire journey that I’ve been on since I’ve gotten here -- kind of a bumpy start, not the start that any of us would have wanted, but seeing where we are today, it was worth it going through those struggles. Getting this award, I’m very thankful.”
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson (the back-to-back winner in 2023 and ‘24) was among eight other players to receive votes, along with outfielders Dylan Beavers, Dylan Carlson and Colton Cowser, infielders Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg, and right-handers Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano. Interim manager Tony Mansolino also appeared on at least one ballot.
Each member of the media submits a three-man ballot, with a 5-3-1 scoring system utilized.
Rogers was a deserving winner due to his excellence for the past three-plus months. After beginning the season on the injured list due to a right knee subluxation -- and then mostly pitching in Triple-A until mid-June, outside of a terrific May 24 spot start in Boston -- he has since put together one of the best seasons by a pitcher in Orioles history.
Through 17 starts, Rogers has a 1.35 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP and 100 strikeouts in 106 2/3 innings. He ranks first on the team with 6.0 bWAR -- the highest by a lefty in O’s history (since 1954) and the best by a Baltimore pitcher since Hall of Famer Mike Mussina posted a 6.1 mark in '95. (Plus, Rogers still has one more start to make before the season is over.)
“What he’s done has been historic in a lot of ways,” Mansolino said. “And then, the backstory is just awesome, just what he went through last year and the circumstances of negativity that surrounded him and to see him fight through it.”
The most impressive part of Rogers’ season has been his consistency. He is the only starting pitcher in franchise history to allow two or fewer runs in 15 consecutive outings -- an active streak he’ll carry into his final start of the season this weekend at Yankee Stadium.
“My stuff is in a really good spot consistently. I’m not a one-dimensional guy anymore,” Rogers said. “I always relied on my fastball and changeup in years past, and it seemed like if one of those pitches went haywire that I only relied on one pitch. Developing multiple pitches that I can throw for strikes and be competitive with those makes my job a little easier.”
The Orioles (73-83) have struggled this season, but they’re 13-4 in games started by Rogers, who has allowed more than two runs only once this year (a June 18 outing in Tampa in which he gave up three runs in 2 1/3 innings).
Last offseason, it didn’t feel like Rogers would be an important part of the rotation mix heading into 2025. This winter, however, he appears to be a co-ace with right-hander Kyle Bradish, a duo that gives Baltimore quite a strong starting point for building its ‘26 staff.
It’s been a return to form for Rogers, who was an All-Star and the National League Rookie of the Year Award runner-up with the Marlins in 2021. However, he may be even better now than he was then, considering he’s a strong candidate for AL Comeback Player of the Year and may appear on some AL Cy Young Award ballots in ‘25.
“Just very honored. I know I’ve said that probably about 10 times, but I’ll probably say it 10 more times,” Rogers said of the MVO Award. “I’m very honored.”