Hannah Rogers’ ERA in 2012 would make AL Cy Young Award winner David Price’s jaw drop. But for the Gators’ junior righty, there’s always room for improvement.
Rogers has been working on changing her pitch repertoire and improving her location.
“I am trying to work on hitting new spots with my pitches instead of just constantly hitting the same spots,” Rogers said.
Despite improving her ERA from 1.92 in 2011 to 1.23 in 2012, Rogers’ accuracy didn’t show the same jump.
As a freshman, Rogers struck out 221 batters and walked 70 in 265.2 innings — a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.15.
During her sophomore campaign, she pitched fewer innings because of fatigue. In 228.1 innings, she tallied 202 punch outs and walked 65, dropping the ratio to 3.11.
But this year, Rogers is healthy and ready to go.
Rogers comes into 2013 as the Gators’ ace and will likely throw the first pitch in Friday’s season opener against Creighton in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
“This is probably the best offseason I feel like I’ve had,” she said. “I feel fresh from my legs to my arms.”
Coach Tim Walton said the junior has focused on getting back into top shape during the offseason.
“She doesn’t say a lot,” Walton said of Rogers. “Last week, I don’t think she said anything to anybody. She just kept mowing batters down left and right and went about her business.”
Walton said Rogers will be more dynamic when she takes the field for Florida this year, and Rogers’ teammates agree.
Sophomore pitcher and first baseman Lauren Haeger has seen Rogers’ new pitches in the bullpen and from the batter’s box.
“[Rogers] has an amazing dropball that none of us can hit, no matter how many times we try,” Haeger said. “And she has a lot of off-speed (pitches), so it really messes with your timing.”
Freshman catcher Aubree Munro has caught Rogers in scrimmages and said the junior is one of the best pitchers she’s ever caught.
“[Rogers is] an awesome pitcher for me, as a catcher, to work with,” Munro said. “It makes my job pretty easy back there.”
Junior Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 3-2 victory against Auburn on April 13 at Pressly Stadium. Rogers had her no-hitter reversed in a 4-1 win against Drake on Saturday. The right-hander finished the game with a one-hitter.
