Prospect Spotlight: BJ Rosenberg

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A big topic recently with the big league club has been the bullpen.  I am firm believer that the bullpen is a place to get the most value out of players that either have a short shelf life or lack the skills the reach the majors in an expanded role.  One of the most interesting guys is BJ Rosenberg.

How we got here:

Rosenberg was drafted in the 13th round of the 2008 draft as a 5th year senior.  He was a starter to begin his career but ultimately ended up in the bullpen his junior year due to injuries.  In 2009 he made it all the way to Reading and earned him a non-roster invite to Spring Training.  However, 2010 and 2011 were a disaster of injuries and inefficiencies that  saw him move to the rotation for some time.  In 2012 a good year in Lehigh Valley saw him promoted to the big league club for 25 terrible innings (there were some much worst than others).  An injury in big league camp in 2013 derailed his attempt at a bullpen spot to start the season and the Phillies sent him to AAA as a starter.

The Profile:

Rosenberg has two main strengths, a fastball that sits 94-96 and touches 98 and the ability to hold that velocity across several innings.  The fastball itself is straight and major league hitters have been able to hit it hard.  His slider is fringe average and the changeup is poor and is not quite a show-me pitch.  The command comes and goes, he can be spot around the zone or way out of it from outing to outing.

Where do we go from here:

By starting Rosenberg in the rotation the Phillies have presented a few options for Rosenberg’s future if he is called up again:

1.  Put him back in the bullpen in a 1-2 inning role.  Rosenberg has enough arm strength that if he has a second pitch that moves he should have a serviceable career as a journeyman type middle reliever (a poor man’s Kyle Farnsworth).

2.  Keep him in the rotation.  Ignoring the better starting prospects in the organization for a minute, Rosenberg right now lacks the secondary pitches to turn a lineup over multiple times on a consistent basis.  Additionally, the injury concerns make it a gamble to trust him to hold down a rotation spot.

3.  Use him as a long man.  I have a slightly different idea of long man than most people, when I say long man I am referring to Kyle Kendrick in 2010-2011 or Tim Lincecum in the playoffs last year, not a guy to finish out a blowout.  A guy who can go get you 3-4 innings in an outing, doesn’t have to really turn over a lineup too many times so they can rely on a shortened arsenal.  This pitcher can also jump into a starting role on a moments notice and give you 5 solid innings when you need it.  This is not a mop-up role and something that would allow Rosenberg to work off his ability to hold velocity, and limit the exposure of his weaknesses.

It remains to be seen how the Phillies will use Rosenberg going forward, but by putting the 27 year old reliever in the starting rotation they are leaving their options open to get some value out of a guy who would be near the top of the release list.

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About Matt Winkelman

Matt is originally from Mt. Holly, NJ, but after a 4 year side track to Cleveland for college he now resides in Madison, WI. His work has previously appeared on Phuture Phillies and The Good Phight. You can read his work at Phillies Minor Thoughts

15 thoughts on “Prospect Spotlight: BJ Rosenberg”

  1. Not accurate that he had “25 terrible innings” last year. Look at the details. Last 10.1 innings he posted a .87 ERA.

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    1. And also walked 5 and struck out only 7. That is a lot of luck there. He was better at the end but quoting a 10 inning sample size for ERA seems a bit week (especially against September line ups, especially his 4 innings on October 2 against a AAA lineup)

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    2. BJ Rosenberg: 2012 MLB:

      25 IP, 5.04 BB/9, 1.44 HR/9, 6.12 ERA, 5.17 FIP, -0.3 WAR

      Less than replacement level might not be terrible, but it isn’t good.

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    3. It’s amazing at times reading comments from all the non experts in these sites. It seems like most have nothing more than negative comments about a select few of the ball players which includes Rosenberg and undeserving really if the research and homework was done on the player being highlighted. Rosenberg has a had a couple of bumps and that will happen. However, his overall performance at each level has outstanding outside the big club, which lacks experience.

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  2. Whatever happened to Bruce Sutter’s role as a minor league pitching consultant? He’s no longer around, is he? Whenever I see this profile–big arm, straight fastball, fringe secondary offerings–I start wondering if the pitcher might be able to benefit from learning the splitter. Although I guess given Rosenberg’s injury problems in that past that might be dangerous. In a way, he’s sort of Scott Mathieson all over again, with a little less velocity and a little more health.

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  3. The 10.1 innings were in September; didn’t include the last 4 inning game in October. He had 9 k’s against 4 walks and the Phils were in the hunt for the playoffs. In August, he had 4.6 scoreless innings; a sign of better things to come. Bottom line, your comment regarding ’25 terrible innings” is grossly incorrect. The kid has some hurdles to clear but when on he has shown some really good stuff. If you’re going to add value (vs. simply hoping to drive web traffic), suggest you do more in depth research.

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    1. I’ve been saying for years this site needs to stop with the inflammatory headlines like “Prospect Profile: BJ Rosenberg” just so they can drive up revenue on all the adds they have plastered everywhere.

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      1. They have “adds” plastered “everywhere”? Are you sure you’re on the right website…or that you know what you’re talking about…?

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  4. Rosenberg is no longer a developmental guy. Phillies just need to see how they can use him. I do like him as ‘long-man’ because he might be able to pitch well for a few innings, e.g. extra innings. He could be used for a couple outs if the rest of the bullpen is tired and actually might have stuff to get guys out (better than Baez).

    No need to protect his arm, just send him out there in mop-up or emergency start and see how it goes. He will be high risk to have a terrible outing whenever his is put in the game. Given the Mathieson history, I no longer figure Rosenberg has much of a chance. Straight fastball and nothing else will not get him anywhere. Like Mathieson, I will be strongly rooting for him though.

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    1. I have to agree here. Rosenberg’s value to the Phillies is being a cheap long man. He will still need to show that he can get guys out on a somewhat consistent basis.

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  5. Mathieson is dealing in Japan. Set a velocity record 100.2 mph, won the world series with the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants last year and signed a 2 million deal for this year and is dealing again. Apparently has a nasty splitter the Japanese taught him. Maybe see him again in the bigs next year.

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