High Point Rockers

High Point Rockers
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAtlantic League of Professional Baseball (South Division)
LocationHigh Point, North Carolina
BallparkTruist Point
Founded2018
ColorsBlue, red, yellow, white
       
OwnershipHigh Point Baseball, Inc.
ManagerJamie Keefe[1]
PresidentPete Fisch[2]
MediaHigh Point Enterprise
Websitewww.highpointrockers.com

The High Point Rockers are an American professional minor-league baseball team based at Truist Point ballpark in High Point, North Carolina, which is part of the Piedmont Triad region. They are members of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball.[3][4]

History

[edit]

Shortly before the conclusion of the 2017 season, the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, voted to not continue with professional baseball in the city and announced plans to convert The Ballpark at Harbor Yard into a music amphitheater. On August 7, 2017, the Bridgeport Bluefish announced that the 2017 season would be the team's last in Bridgeport after playing in the city for 20 years.[5] On September 8, 2017, Frank Boulton (league founder and a team owner)[6] announced that the Bluefish would move to High Point, North Carolina.[7] The league instead unanimously approved a new franchise in High Point on March 12, 2018, to replace the Bluefish to begin play in 2019.[8][9]

Ground was officially broken on April 11, 2018, for the new ballpark in High Point, to be called BB&T Point (now Truist Point).[10][11]

On June 7, 2018, a "Name the Team" contest was launched with nine finalists: Chairmen, Dragon Claws, Hush Puppies, Iron Dragons, Iron Eagles, Pioneers, Rockers, and Splinters.[12] On June 21, 2018, the names were narrowed down to Dragon Claws, Rockers, and Splinters.[13][14] On July 12, 2018, Rockers was chosen as the team name.[15]

On November 28, 2018, the High Point Rockers announced Jamie Keefe as the team's first manager and Frank Viola as the Rockers' first pitching coach.[1]

On April 1, 2019, the team revealed their mascot, a rocking horse, and invited the public to submit name suggestions.[16]

The Rockers won their inaugural home game, defeating the Sugar Land Skeeters on May 2, 2019.[17][18]

Current roster

[edit]
High Point Rockers roster
Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers



  

Catchers

  • 32 Brian Parreira
  • 13 Jake Washer
  •  3 Nolan Watson

Infielders

  •  2 D.J. Burt
  • 18 Evan Edwards
  • 22 Martin Figueroa
  •  7 Clayton Mehlbauer
  • 23 Colin Moran
  • 17 Connor Owings
  • 40 Zander Wiel

Outfielders

  •  8 Ben Aklinski
  • 48 Nick Longhi
  

Manager

  • 26 Jamie Keefe

Coaches


Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated July 5, 2024
 Transactions

Season by season results

[edit]
Year Wins Losses Playoffs
2019 74 66 Lost Opening Round to Long Island
2020 Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 64 55 did not qualify
2022 71 61 Defeated Gastonia in Southern Division - Lost Against Lancaster in Finals
2023 78 46 Lost Division Finals to Gastonia
2024 74 52 did not qualify
Total 361 280 3 Appearances, 1 Southern Championship (2022)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b High Point Rockers (November 28, 2018). "Jamie Keefe & Frank Viola Named to Rockers Coaching Staff" (Press release). High Point, N.C.: Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  2. ^ "Personnel News: High Point, Buffalo". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. September 23, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  5. ^ Dillane, Matt (August 7, 2017). "2017 to be final season for Bridgeport Bluefish". WTNH. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Van Riper, Tom (August 12, 2013). "Bush League Bonanza: Frank Boulton Builds An Empire In Baseball's Minors". Forbes. p. 106. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  7. ^ Brasier, John (September 8, 2017). "Atlantic League baseball will move, not expand, into High Point". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  8. ^ "Atlantic League set to expand to High Point, North Carolina, for 2019 baseball season". The York Dispatch. March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "Atlantic League Approves High Point Membership for 2019" (Press release). Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB). March 12, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  10. ^ Spedden, Zach (April 12, 2018). "New for 2019: BB&T Point". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Rose, Alex (April 11, 2018). "City leaders break ground for High Point stadium project; stadium to be named 'BB&T Point'". WGHP. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  12. ^ Allman, Megan (June 7, 2018). "Top 9 Names Revealed For High Point Baseball Team". WFMY-TV. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  13. ^ "Name The New High Point Baseball Team". HighPointBaseball.com. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  14. ^ "High Point Name-The-Team Contest Yields Three Finalists". Ballpark Digest. June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  15. ^ "Name of future High Point baseball team announced". WGHP. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  16. ^ Hodgin, Carrie (April 1, 2019). "You Can Help Name High Point Rockers' New Mascot!". WFMY-TV. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  17. ^ "High Point Rockers Top Sugar Land In Inaugural Home Game". WFMY-TV. May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  18. ^ "High Point Rockers beat Sugar Land Skeeters in 3-0 home win on opening night". WGHP. May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
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