Leibrandt signs with Yankees

November 12, 2024 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. (Nov. 11, 2024) – Brandon Leibrandt, a left-handed pitcher who pitched for the High Point Rockers in 2023 and 2024, has signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He is expected to join the Yankees in Spring Training and compete for a spot on the 2025 Opening Day roster.

Leibrandt went 4-3 for the Rockers during the 2023 regular season, posting a 3.26 ERA. In the playoffs, he started both games that the Rockers won in the South Division Championship series against Gastonia. While he did not get either decision, Leibrandt pitched seven innings in each start, allowing just three runs and posting an ERA of 1.29.

In 2024, Leibrandt made four starts for the Rockers, going 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA before his contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds. He made two appearances for Cincinnati this past season.

Leibrandt, a former pitcher at Florida State and the son of former MLB pitcher Charlie Leibrandt, was a sixth round pick of the Phillies in 2014.

Leibrandt was one of eight Rockers in 2024 who had their contract purchased by an MLB club or foreign league. He is the most recent of seven former Rockers to have reached the Majors including RHP Huascar Brazoban, LHP Alberto Baldonado, INF Tyler Ladendorf, RHP David Robertson, RHP Jake Petricka, and RHP Kyle Barraclough.

Rockers, ALPB set 2025 schedule

October 8, 2024 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers and the Atlantic League today announced the 2025 schedule with the High Point Rockers hosting 63 games at Truist Point during the league’s 27th season.

Rockers, ALPB set 2025 schedule

The Rockers open their sixth season at the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday, April 25 with a three-game series in Waldorf, Md. High Point’s home opener is slated for Friday, May 2 against the Lexington Legends. The first half champions will be crowned at the mid-point of the season following games on Sunday, July 6. The 126-game regular season schedule will wrap up on Thursday, September 18.

DOWNLOAD 2025 ROCKERS SCHEDULE

High Point will be at home the first week of July, hosting Gastonia on July 1-3.

The Rockers will play 96 games against fellow South Division opponents while playing 30 times against teams from the North. The 2025 ALPB division set-up will remain the same with the Rockers competing for the South Division title along with Gastonia, Charleston, Lexington and Southern Maryland.

The Rockers will play 27 games against in-state rival Gastonia. High Point or Gastonia have won five of the last six South Division half-season pennants dating back to the start of the 2022 season.

In 2024, the Rockers tied for the second half South Division title with Charleston but missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker. High Point has qualified for the playoffs in three of its first five seasons.

“We are excited to announce the schedule and we are actively planning a full range of promotional days and community events,” said Rockers President Pete Fisch. “We will again feature Fireworks Fridays and another exciting celebration around July 4 along with a number of special events throughout the season.”

For more information on tickets and the complete season schedule, contact the High Point Rockers Ticket Office at (336) 888-1000 ([email protected]) or visit HighPointRockers.com.

Game times for all contests will be announced at a later date.

About High Point Baseball, Inc.

The High Point Rockers, operated by the non-profit High Point Baseball, play their home games at Truist Point, a state-of-the-art $36 million ballpark which serves as a catalyst to the rejuvenation of downtown High Point. A member of the 10-team Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League with clubs from New York to North Carolina, the Rockers have reached the postseason playoffs in three of their four seasons.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 25-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

Aklinski, Burt named to All-Defensive Team

October 1, 2024 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. (October 1, 2024) – High Point Rockers outfielder Ben Aklinski and second baseman D.J. Burt were named to the Atlantic League’s Drake All-Defensive team on Tuesday.

Burt has been named to the team for the second consecutive season, though he was a 2023 honoree as the Rockers’ regular center fielder.

Burt was second in the league in games played at second base in 2024 with 92 and made the fewest errors of any second baseman who logged 65 or more games at the position. For the year, Burt posted a .985 fielding percentage and was third in the league with 48 double plays.

Aklinski spent most of the 2024 season in center field where he committed just two errors in 122 games. Only one other Atlantic League outfielder made fewer errors in over 100 games. Aklinski’s .996 fielding percentage was also the highest in the league by any outfielder with 100 or more games.

Truist Point accepting flood relief items

October 1, 2024 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. (September 30, 2024) – The High Point Rockers and Truist Point will serve as a drop-off location for donations that will be distributed to Hurricane Helene victims in flood-ravaged Western North Carolina.

The relief efforts are being coordinated by the Cover the City Project in High Point, N.C.

Flood victims are most in need of towels, tarps, nonperishable food items, feminine hygiene products, toiletries, water, cleaning supplies, baby formula and baby and adult diapers.

The Rockers will be accepting donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Front Office location at 303 Gatewood Avenue.

Rockers receive ALPB Community Service Award

October 1, 2024 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers have received the 2024 Outstanding Community Service Award from the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The ALPB announced its year-end awards on Monday.

The Rockers and the High Point Downtown Stadium Foundation were recognized for their outstanding community service during the 2024 season. The Rockers raised over $10,000 for the Coy Williard Dugout Fund, named in honor of the Rockers late board chair, through a charity golf tournament. The Coy Williard Dugout Fund continues Coy’s legacy by educating youth on the game of baseball.

The Rockers’ Strikeout Cancer Night on June 28 allowed the Downtown Stadium Foundation to present a gift of over $43,000 to the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Hayworth Cancer Center to benefit the LoveLine fund, a philanthropic fund through the High Point Regional Health Foundation to benefit cancer patients at Hayworth Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center. Rockers assistant general manager Caroline Cooling is a classical Hodgkins Lymphoma survivor.

In addition, the Rockers and their front office staff hosted the Battle of the Badges Charity Softball Game to benefit local charities including the High Point Police Department’s Angels in Blue and the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

The Rockers also participated in the Adopt-A-Street Clean program and work diligently to keep Gatewood Avenue, outside of Truist Point, clean and free of trash. Other charitable initiatives include volunteering at numerous food pantries while also hosting special nights that offered free admission for canned food donations.

“To receive this award from the Atlantic League recognizes the many charitable and community service initiatives that we engage in throughout the year,” said Team President Pete Fisch. “The Rockers exist to benefit the High Point community and it makes every member of the organization feel appreciated that we are making positive contributions. High Point and the surrounding community is our home.”

About High Point Baseball, Inc.

The High Point Rockers, operated by the non-profit High Point Baseball, play their home games at Truist Point, a state-of-the-art $36 million ballpark which serves as a catalyst to the rejuvenation of downtown High Point. The Rockers have reached the Atlantic League playoffs in three of four years after winning the South Division title in both halves of the 2023 season. The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League, has 10 clubs from New York to North Carolina. For more, visit HighPointRockers.com.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Rockers complete 6-game sweep of Ducks

September 15, 2024 by Steve Shutt

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. – The High Point Rockers ended the season on Sunday by completing a rare six-game sweep of the Long Island Ducks, adding a 9-2 win at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

The Rockers finished the second half of the season with a 38-25 record, tying the Charleston Dirty Birds for first place. However, the first tiebreaker in the Atlantic League is head-to-head competition in the second half of the season and Charleston won eight of the 13 second half games from the Rockers.

The Rockers ended the season with the third-best overall record in the league at 74-52, trailing only York (80-45) and Gastonia (83-43).

Sunday’s victory was the sixth straight for the Rockers, all at Long Island.

Evan Edwards hit his fifth home run of the series, taking Long Island starter Chris Ellis deep after Ryan Grotjohn had doubled to give the Rockers a 2-0 lead.

The Ducks tied the game with single runs in the second and third. Yoelquis Cespedes doubled off High Point starter Jeremy Rhoades (W, 5-3) in the second and came around to score on a sac fly by Alexis Pantoja. In the third, Leobaldo Cabrera singled home Nick Heath to knot the game at 2-2.

The Rockers tied the game in the sixth when Edwards hit an infield pop-up that first baseman Kendon Strachan was unable to catch. An errant pickoff throw to first allowed Edwards to move to second and he scored when Connor Owings lined a single just out of the reach of shortstop Alexis Pantoja.

High Point added multiple insurance runs in the eighth, sending 12 men to the plate and scoring six runs to increase its lead to 9-2. After Martin Figueroa singled to left, he moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored from second on another wild pitch by Ducks reliever Daniel Corcino. Following a walk to Ben Aklinski, he stole second and then scored on a double by Owings. Corcino, who previously walked Edwards, then hit Quincy Nieporte with a pitch to load the bases. A walk to Brian Parreira drove home another run before the Ducks went to the bullpen for Rolando Casihis. Michael Martinez lined a two-run single and Figueroa lined to left to plate Parreira.

Rhoades went five innings and allowed just four hits while walking four and striking out three. Austin Warner threw two scoreless innings and Jacob Edwards pitched around a leadoff single to throw another shutout inning in the eighth then retired the first two Ducks in the ninth before exiting. Kyle Halbohn came on for the Rockers to retire Kevin Higgins on a grounder to short for the final out of the game.

NOTES: High Point’s 74 overall wins are tied for the second-most in club history. The 2023 team won 78 games… The Rockers have now won or tied for the South Division title in three of the last four half-seasons… OF Ben Aklinski led all ALPB players with 125 games played… SS Ryan Grotjohn tied for the league lead with seven triples… Connor Owings led all ALPB players with 12 sacrifice flies on the season with 12… Jonah Scolaro led all ALPB pitchers with two complete games… Charleston and Gastonia will play for the ALPB South Division Championship starting on Tuesday while York and Lancaster will battle for the North title. The two winners will meet in the League Championship Series that is slated to start September 24.