After starting the season with a monster April, slashing .329/.411/.582 over 90 PA’s, and following that with a solid May, slashing .280/.325/.493 over 80 PA’s, Rodgers has cooled at the plate, slashing .256/.320/.409 over his last 226 PA’s. Additionally, the home/road splits are striking, which is not wholly surprising given Asheville’s tendency to play as one of the better offensive environs in the minors.  In 190 PA’s at home, Rodgers is slashing .308/.368/.552, while tallying nine of his 14 home runs and 15 of his 25 doubles. On the road, Rodgers is slashing a less impressive .249/.317/.384, including just five of his 14 homers and 10 of his 25 doubles. Put another way, Rodgers is seeing about a 20% decrease in batting average, a 15% decrease in on-base percentage, and a 45% decrease in isolated power away from Asheville.

The scouting paints a more hopeful picture, however, as Rodgers continues to show quick hands, some natural loft, and good raw pop at the plate. He also tracks well and can identify spin, helping to cut down on empty swings and limit his strikeout numbers. There’s lots of developing strength in his core and trunk, making a plus power projection one of the easier calls an evaluator will be asked to make, though the big bat speed brings with it some unwieldiness in the swing. Rodgers’s big cuts can cause him to lose balance through his weight transfer at times, pulling the barrel off-plane and resulting in softer contact than should be produced based on the raw materials he is working with. There’s plenty of time for the talented young hitter to refine as he continues to log reps and climb the ranks, however, and he remains one of the more exciting offensive prospects in the lower minors. It’s still a question whether his thickening lower half and average mobility will force Rodgers off of shortstop, but the offensive ceiling is high enough to be impactful at both third base and second, should such a shift transpire.