High Point Rockers

The High Point Rockers are an American professional baseball team based at Truist Point ballpark in High Point, North Carolina and playing in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league.

High Point Rockers
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAtlantic League of Professional Baseball (Liberty Division[1])
LocationHigh Point, North Carolina
BallparkTruist Point
Year founded2018
OwnershipHigh Point Baseball, Inc.
CoachFrank Viola (pitching)[2]
ManagerJamie Keefe[2]
PresidentPete Fisch[3]
Websitewww.highpointrockers.com

History

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.[4] On September 8, 2017, Frank Boulton (league founder and a team owner)[5] announced that the Bluefish would move to High Point, North Carolina.[6] The league instead unanimously approved a new franchise in High Point on March 12, 2018, to replace the Bluefish to begin play in 2019.[7][8]

Ground was officially broken on April 11, 2018, for the new ballpark in High Point, to be called BB&T Point.[9][10]

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.[11] On June 21, 2018, the names were narrowed down to Dragon Claws, Rockers, and Splinters.[12][13] On July 12, 2018, Rockers was chosen as the team name.[14]

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.[2]

On April 1, 2019, the team revealed their mascot, a rocking horse, and invited the public to submit name suggestions.[15]

The Rockers won their inaugural home game, defeating the Sugar Land Skeeters on May 2, 2019.[16][17]

Current roster
High Point Rockers roster
Active (25-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- John Brownell
  • -- Jake Buchanan
  • -- Ryan Chaffee
  • -- Brian Clark
  • -- Kyle Halbohn
  • -- Luke Irvine
  • -- Josh Judy
  • -- Brandon Leibrandt
  • -- Drake Owenby
  • 23 Chris Pennell
  • -- Craig Stem
  • -- Cory Taylor
  

Catchers

  • -- Stuart Levy

Infielders

  • -- Giovanny Alfonzo
  • -- Matt Fields
  • -- Jason Martinson
  • -- Michael Russell

Outfielders

  

Manager

  • 26 Jamie Keefe

Coaches

  • -- Bubber Birdsong (assistant)
  • -- Albert Gonzalez (bullpen)
  • -- Billy Horn (bench)
  • -- Frank Viola (pitching)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated July 7, 2020
Transactions

Season by season results
Year Wins Losses Playoffs
2019 74 66 Lost Opening Round to Long Island Ducks
2020Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Total 74 66 0 Championships
gollark: Trading is the root of suffering.
gollark: Never mention trades... ***OR ELSE***.
gollark: Golds will inevitably be stupidly rare forever.
gollark: The bad annoying one for CB prizes.
gollark: Yay, entered raffle!

References
  1. "Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Announce 2019 Schedule". Calvert Beacon. Solomons, Maryland. November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018. The Atlantic League will be welcoming a new team for the 2019 season as well, with the High Point Rockers joining the Liberty Division.
  2. 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.
  3. "Personnel News: High Point, Buffalo". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  4. Dillane, Matt (August 7, 2017). "2017 to be final season for Bridgeport Bluefish". WTNH. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  5. 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.
  6. Brasier, John (September 8, 2017). "Atlantic League baseball will move, not expand, into High Point". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  7. "Atlantic League set to expand to High Point, North Carolina, for 2019 baseball season". The York Dispatch. March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  8. "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.
  9. Spedden, Zach (April 12, 2018). "New for 2019: BB&T Point". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  10. 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.
  11. Allman, Megan (June 7, 2018). "Top 9 Names Revealed For High Point Baseball Team". WFMY-TV. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  12. "Name The New High Point Baseball Team". HighPointBaseball.com. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  13. "High Point Name-The-Team Contest Yields Three Finalists". Ballpark Digest. June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  14. "Name of future High Point baseball team announced". WGHP. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  15. Hodgin, Carrie (April 1, 2019). "You Can Help Name High Point Rockers' New Mascot!". WFMY-TV. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  16. "High Point Rockers Top Sugar Land In Inaugural Home Game". WFMY-TV. May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  17. "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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