McNeese pitcher Grant Rogers taken in 11th round of MLB Draft by Blue Jays

LAKE CHARLES – McNeese junior starting pitcher Grant Rogers, a 2023 consensus All-American and native of Groves, Texas, was selected Tuesday afternoon by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 11th round of the MLB Draft.

Rogers becomes the 20th player to be drafted or sign a free agent contract under skipper Justin Hill and marks the third-consecutive year a Cowboy pitcher has been selected in the draft.

“It’s surreal,” Rogers said about being drafted by the Blue Jays. “They’re the first MLB team to reach out to me and it was a full circle moment.”

Rogers has spent the last two seasons with the Cowboys with stellar performances in 30 appearances and posted a breakout year during the 2023 campaign. In 2023, he made 15 starts en route to collect 12 victories with one loss and two no decisions. His 1.82 ERA was the lowest of all pitchers in the conference with at least 51 innings pitched. Rogers threw four complete games, two coming as shutouts, on the season.

“The past two years at McNeese have been the best two years of my life,” continued Rogers. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the coaches I’ve had.”

While in his first season with the Pokes, Rogers earned a 4.26 ERA and 7-4 record over 14 starts and 15 appearances with 72 strikeouts. The performance led him to an All-Southland First Team selection and Pitcher of the Year honors.

In his junior campaign, Rogers was named a consensus All-American, gaining recognition by all five major college baseball publications – Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and ABCA/Rawlings, all on the second team, and third team honors by Baseball America and DI Baseball. He earned Southland Pitcher of the Year honors for the second straight year while also being named to the All-SLC First Team once again.

With his 12 wins on the season, Rogers broke the single-season record for McNeese which also ranks the second highest in Southland history. He also became the first player in school history to start the season with a 10-0 record without a loss.