Taylor Rogers gives Twins a second All-Star representative

DENVER – Taylor Rogers was watering his lawn late Monday afternoon, but he didn't finish the job. "That's OK," he shrugged. "It's still tops on the block."

That chore was interrupted by a phone call from Rocco Baldelli, with a message Rogers had dreamed about — yet still caught him by surprise. Rogers is a member of the AL All-Star team, Baldelli informed him, a late addition after Seattle lefthander Yusei Kikuchi, who just came off the COVID-19 list, was ruled out of the game.

"He said, 'Is there a chance you can get to Denver by game time tomorrow?' " Rogers related. "I said, 'I can be there in 30 minutes.' "

Rogers didn't quite make it that quickly, but he hurried downtown, talked his way into Coors Field, and joined his new teammates on the field during the Home Run Derby. He borrowed an All-Star sweatshirt from Twins teammate Nelson Cruz so he looked like he belonged, while the clubhouse staff back at Target Field quickly packed up his uniform for overnight shipping from Minnesota to Colorado.

"I still haven't quite got a grasp on it yet. It's just a whirlwind," said Rogers, in his sixth season with the Twins. "I haven't been able to really sit down and think yet."

He also received a congratulatory phone call from AL manager Kevin Cash, who asked if he's ready to pitch. "I enjoyed that phone call. He didn't have to do that," Rogers said. "I asked to face three left-handed hitters, and he said he'd see what he could do."

Rogers had hoped to attend Tuesday's game to watch his twin brother Tyler, a righthander who owns 10 saves and a 1.47 ERA in the Giants bullpen, but was disappointed when he was passed over. Now Tyler and their entire family will be there to watch Taylor, who has eight saves, a 3.35 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 37⅔ innings.

"My brother was the first call. That's a no-brainer. Then a couple of other calls to the people close to me," Rogers said. "Then I hit the road."

He showed up at Coors Field, with a box of cleats and a pair of grey uniform pants, the only uniform he had at his house.

It's quite a reversal in just 24 hours. On Sunday, Rogers tried to protect a three-run lead against the Tigers, but loaded the bases instead and surrendered a grand slam to Detroit catcher Jake Rogers, arguably the worst outing of his career. The Twins rallied to win the game anyway.

"I'm glad that — I don't know who it was, MLB, a committee, whoever it was — I'm glad that they looked at the full body of work, and not just the latest piece," said Taylor Rogers, who had given up only one run in his previous dozen appearances. "I'm proud of the body of work that I've got going. So I'm glad that they looked at the full season."

In addition to Kikuchi, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was also ruled inactive for the game. Tampa Bay reliever Andrew Kittredge was added to the AL roster.