Rogers, Who Has Worked As The Catcher For All Of Skubal's Starts, Jogged To The Mound At Globe Life Field

Rogers, who has worked as the catcher for all of Skubal's starts, jogged to the mound at Globe Life Field to examine his batterymate. He investigated by poking just beneath Skubal's eye with his left index finger, and then, for no reason in particular, he slapped Skubal softly on the other side of his face with his right hand.

"I gave him a little love tap there," Rogers said.

Skubal couldn't help but smile.

"He's a beauty," Skubal said.

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"I think we have a better relationship off the field than we do on the field," said Skubal, who spent two weeks with Rogers at the alternate site before making his MLB debut in August 2020. "That's not to say we don't get along on the field. It's just, that's how close I am with that guy."

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Before every game, Skubal and Rogers complete the USA TODAY crossword puzzle as part of their individual pregame routines.

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Skubal has improved significantly at the USA TODAY crossword, thanks to lessons learned from Alexander and Rogers along the way, but he still asks Rogers for help.

"I'd say, every other day I need good help," Skubal said, "but some other days I can get it. Today, I got it by myself. Typically, if you can get going and get some clues, it helps you out. If you get stuck in one area, and then you get one word, it'll unlock like 15 words. He'll help me get the one. He's like, 'OK, this is the one that will unlock the puzzle.' And then I'll be able to do a lot of it."

Skubal and Rogers also exchange at least one text message every single day, whether the Tigers are in spring training, the regular season or the offseason.

It's because Skubal and Rogers play Wordle, a web-based game in which players have six attempts to guess a daily five-letter word that's the same for all players. They have texted each other their results every day for the past two years. There's usually lively banter between them, especially if someone doesn't get the word within the allotted six guesses.

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Skubal had talked about getting Rogers a gift at the end of last season for catching every pitch of his incredible campaign, much like Justin Verlander would buy a watch for his catcher after throwing a no-hitter. Before the follow-up season begins, Skubal delivered in his usual low-key fashion.

“He got a nice little gift on his wrist, a nice Rolex,” Skubal said Friday. “I just gave it to him the first day I saw him here.”

Actually, two watches.

As a left-handed pitcher with a 100+ mph fastball and a nasty changeup and slider, Skubal is arguably one of one. The watch he gave Rogers is one of two, with Skubal buying the other for himself.

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The gift is a reflection of that trust. Since then, Rogers has been trying to find occasions to wear the watch, which he joked might be the most expensive thing he owns.

“I’ve been [in] ragged shorts and a t-shirt wearing it,” he said. “I’m wearing it every day. I just got engaged and we got engagement pictures, so I got to wear it last night and show it off a little bit -- hopefully not taking away from her ring. …

“But again, it means a lot to me, so I’m going to try to wear it as much as I can.”

(source one) (source two)