Thousand Oaks Pitcher Rogers Quits Baseball, Citing Burnout

Matt Rogers, a Times’ All-Ventura County pitcher from Thousand Oaks High, said Thursday he has quit baseball.

Rogers, who was 7-2 with a 2.06 earned-run average as a junior last season, quit the Thousand Oaks American Legion team three weeks ago.

Although he was chosen to compete, he will not play next week in the Area Code tournament, the region’s premier showcase for college coaches and professional scouts.

“I’m just burned out,” Rogers said. “I’ve lived and breathed baseball since I was 5 and I had lost my confidence and desire and ability.”

Rogers said the velocity and control of his pitches declined noticeably during the last four months. He said the attention he received from college coaches and pro scouts only added to his problems.

“I would see scouts at games and start thinking about them and not my pitching,” Rogers said. “You can’t do that, you have to think about yourself and how you’re performing.”

Rogers has not decided if he will play for Thousand Oaks next season.

“I really don’t know about my future,’ he said. “I’m taking it day by day and if I wake up one day and want to play, I’ll play.”

Bill Sizemore, Thousand Oaks coach, is being supportive. “I told him to take as long as he needed,” Sizemore said. “He’s just mentally exhausted because he’s played baseball nonstop since his freshman year.”