blog

By Katelynn Hunter
HighPointRockers.com

Greensboro native Greg White has made a full circle after signing with the High Point Rockers.  He played in his first game for the Rockers on Mother’s Day where his mom was in the stands to watch the team bring home the win. For White, the dream of playing professional baseball hasn’t faded even through the face of adversity.

As a junior in high school at Wesleyan Christian Academy, he was not being heavily recruited. This was not discouraging to White but instead a source of motivation. After graduating, White made the team at Pitt Community College in Greenville, North Carolina. He spent two years at Pitt Community College before transferring to North Carolina A&T (DI). When he was being recruited by NC A&T, he knew that he was being called to come back home.

“Being surrounded by my support system kept me motivated,” stated White. Being able to play Division I baseball in his hometown was a dream come true. He was able to pursue his dreams while being surrounded by the people he loved. During his time at NC A&T, he started in 47 games and finished the season with a .350 average. White was able to help lead the Aggies to a spot in the 2017 MEAC Baseball Championship Tournament. He was able to see his hard work paying off but did not want his career to stop here.

After graduating college, White continued to pursue his dreams of playing professionally. He tried out for multiple teams but was declined a spot on their rosters. This process continued for several months but White did not give up hope. In 2021, he signed with the Boise Hawks in the Pioneer League for the season. At the end of the season, White found himself looking for a spot with another team. He continued to train and kept himself in shape while waiting for another opportunity to play the sport he loves so much.

In May 2024, White received a call from the High Point Rockers and was quickly added to the roster. This was a full circle moment for him as he was back playing baseball in his hometown. Seeing his family in the stands meant the world to him as he played in his first game on Saturday and then made his first start on Sunday, getting a hit and driving in a run.

High Point Rockers vs. Lexington Legends (May 14-16)

The Rockers and Legends will start a three-game set on Tuesday at Truist Point. The two clubs are spiraling in opposite directions. Lexington has lost six straight games and rests in the cellar of the South Division, 13 games back of the Charleston Dirty Birds. The Rockers after winning their first five games to start the year, hit a bit of a wall, but have now won two straight and look to close ground on the Dirty Birds prior to their big series this weekend. These three games with the Legends continue a nine-game homestand for High Point. The Rockers won their previous series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, which was the Rockers first series win since their sweep of the Legends to start the season. The Rockers will see plenty of the Legends, the two teams will battle 25 times this year, with 15 of those at Truist Point.

 

About the Rockers:

The Rockers come into this game at 9-7 tied with Gastonia for second in the South Division, four games back of the Charleston Dirty Birds who the Rockers will face Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After the Rockers got off to a scorching start winning their first five games, they dropped three straight series, before taking the first series of the homestand against Southern Maryland. Charleston just finished a six-game sweep of the Legends and High Point must handle business vs the teams in the basement, like Lexington to keep pace with the Dirty Birds in the first half.

Key Players:

Ben Aklinski:

The Rockers go as Ben Aklinski goes. Aklinski started the season with four homers and 15 runs batted in, then hit a mini slide that correlated with the Rockers slide. However, in the past three games, Aklinski is 4 for 12 with two homers and eight runs batted in. In the Rockers’ first series against Lexington, Aklinski hit .500 with three homers and 12 RBIs. On April 27th Aklinski had a two homer game, with one of those being the only Rocker grand slam this season. High Point needs Aklinski’s bat to stay hot to handle Lexington and gain momentum into the Charleston series.

Colin Moran:

Moran is the current Rocker with the most Major League experience. He has 50 big league homers and began to show off that power in High Point’s last series vs the Blue Crabs. Moran is the Rockers reigning Player of the Week. He hit .400, had a homer, four doubles, and drove in three runs. On Sunday Moran had a four-hit game, becoming the third Rocker to do so this season, joining Ben Aklinski and Connor Owings.

Connor Owings:

Connor Owings has been the most consistent Rocker this year. He has a .350 batting average, the highest on the team, and has three homers and 15 RBIs. Aklinski was not the only High Point player to hit Lexington hard as Owings had a .444 batting average with two homers during that four game series. In the absence of Nick Longhi, High Point needs the rest of the lineup to step up and Owings in particular.

 

Keys Trends:

HR ball:

The Rockers have the most homers in the Atlantic league with 27 and have won every game this season that they hit more homers than their opponent. More than 53% of their offense production comes via the HR, demonstrating how vital it is to the Rockers success.

Stolen Base Battle:

The Rockers struggled stopping the running game earlier this season. A week ago, they had allowed the second-most stolen bases including a stretch of four games where they conceded 15 stolen bags. However, High Point has done a much better job recently and has picked off three base runners in the past two games. When the Rockers are on base, they don’t steal a whole lot. They have the second fewest stolen bases with 14. However, when the Rockers steal, they have success. This season the Rockers have won every game that they have as many or more stolen bases than their opponent.

Dominance on the mound:

In 2023, the High Point pitching staff had the best strikeout to walk ratio in the Atlantic League. They had the second-most strikeouts and fewest walks, with 69 fewer than the team with the second-least. This season the Rockers are demonstrating a similar dominance. They have the third best ERA at 3.97 and have a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.96, which is nearly 1.5 more than Gastonia, the team with the second-best mark.

 

About the Legends:

Lexington comes into this three-game series at 3-13, six games behind High Point, and 10 behind the division pacing Charleston Dirty Birds. The Legends have dropped six straight games, all to the Dirty Birds. They are by far the youngest team in the league, and their inexperience has cost them thus far.

Keys Players:

Keenan OBrien:

The Lexington backstop has only played 10 games this season, but when he has, he’s been productive. He has a .368 batting average with three doubles a triple and 11 RBIs. Against High Point he was two for six with four runs batted in and in his last seven games he is hitting .385. He is a bat to pay attention to this series.

Matt Bottcher:

Another lefty High Point has to look out for is Matt Bottcher. He has a .284 batting average thus far and has four doubles as well. His power has been on the rise; last year he clubbed a career high 13 homers, and already has three this year. He is a guy with speed as well. He stole 21 bags last year and has three this season. Bottcher will have to make an impact on the game in all areas to give Lexington a fighting chance.

Key Trends:

Can the offense keep up:

While Lexington’s record is the worst in the league, do not be fooled into thinking the Legends can’t hit. The Legends have scored the second-most runs in the league and have the most doubles. They don’t hit a lot of homers, but they walk, get on base, and can cause havoc. They have scored five or more runs in four of their past six and scored 10+ in their last two games. High Point has an explosive offense, and Lexington will have to score a whole lot to steal some wins.

 

Keeping the ball in the park:

We just mentioned how the Legends can hit, but Lexington’s pitching is a different story. The Legends have the highest ERA in the league at 8.08, which is 2.2 higher than the Long Island Ducks who have the second-highest ERA in the league. The reason for the high number, the long ball. The Legends have allowed 32 homers this year, which is 10 more than any other club has allowed and have walked 107, 26 more than Hagerstown, who has walked the second-most in the league. The Rockers have hit the most homers in the league and draw the third-most walks, making this series a matchup of strength vs weakness. Lexington has to be able to prevent throwing ball four and keep the ball in the park to give themselves any shot.

 

Pitching Matchup:

Tues: LEX – Nic Laio vs HP – Ryan Weiss

Laio: 13.2IP (3G-2GS) / 6.58 ERA / 5BB:18Ks / 2HR allowed

Weiss: 14.1IP (3GS) / 9ER (5.65 ERA) / 6BB / 25Ks / 4HR allowed

 

Wed: LEX – Dustin Beggs vs HP – Taylor Guerrieri

Beggs: 14 IP (3GS) / 7.71 ERA / 7BB:9Ks / 5HR allowed

Guerrieri: 8IP (3G-1GS) / 7ER (7.87 ERA) / 12Ks

 

Thurs: LEX – TBA vs HP – Jeremy Rhoades

TBA:

Rhoades: 15.1IP (3GS) / 7ER (4.11 ERA) / 5BB / 18Ks / 2HR allowed

 

Keys for Rocker Starters:

The Rockers have had impressive strikeout stuff this season, six strikeouts away from 200 on the season. The Legends batters have struck out the second most times this year. Rockers pitchers should be able to put away Legend hitters via the K and keep men offbase. Weiss made a start vs Lexington earlier this season that wasn’t his best. He gave up four runs over 4.1 innings. However, last time out at the Blue Crabs, Weiss tied a club record with 12 strikeouts and is in line for a more successful outing vs Lexington today. Rhoades also started at Lexington during opening weekend, and threw five shutout innings, striking out six. If the Rockers pitchers can replicate their success, they team should be in line for some wins.

 

Milestone Watch:

Rockers manager, Jaime Keefe, has the third best active win percentage in the Atlantic League and is four wins away from 300 Atlantic League Ws and 15 games away from 2,000 games managed.

 

How Can I Tune In?

            Tuesday and Thursday our coverage will start at 6:20 p.m. EDT with a first pitch time of 6:35 p.m. EDT. Our pregame coverage for Wednesday’s 11:00 a.m. EDT game will begin at 10:45 a.m. EDT. Tune into the game on MixLR or watch the game on FloSports.

 

 

 

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point Rockers right-handed starter Peter Solomon has had his contract purchased by the Texas Rangers. Solomon is the second Rocker to move to the Rangers this season, joining RHP Kyle Barraclough. Overall, Solomon is the 32^nd Rockers player to have their contract purchased by a Major League or foreign baseball league.

Solomon made three appearances for High Point this season, recording 19 strikeouts in just 12.2 innings while walking just three.

A former pitcher at Notre Dame, Solomon, 27, was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2017 and marked his MLB debut in 2021. He made five appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023.

“It is a tribute to Jamie Keefe and his staff that they continue to find Major League caliber players and bring them to High Point,” said Rockers team president Pete Fisch. “While we will miss seeing Peter play for the Rockers, we know that we were able to provide him with the opportunity to get back to the Major Leagues.”

The Rockers play at Southern Maryland on Thursday night, May 9 before returning home to start a nine-game homestand on Friday, May 10.

High Point Rockers vs. Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

The Rockers and Blue Crabs will continue their 6-game set with the first of three games at Truist Point beginning Friday, May 10. These three games are the first of a nine-game homestand for High Point as they face two other South Division foes in the Lexington Legends and Charleston Dirty Birds. Southern Maryland and High Point are in the midst of back-to-back three-game sets that saw the first three played at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. The Rockers dropped the first and final game of that series, but were able to take the middle game in dominant fashion. Starter Ryan Weiss tied a club record for 12 strikeouts and the Rockers burst out for nine runs on 13 hits offensively. Last season the Rockers won the season series vs the Blue Crabs 15-6. This year the Rockers will square off against Southern Maryland 18 times, with nine games at home and nine on the road..

 

About the Rockers:

            The Rockers come into this game at (7-6) tied with Gastonia for second in the South Division, three games back of the Charleston Dirty Birds who the Rockers dropped a series to earlier this year. After the Rockers got off to a scorching start winning their first five games, they’ve since dropped six of their past eight. It is vital for the Rockers to get the lead. There has not been a lead change in any of the 13 Rockers games this season. Every game the Rockers have won they’ve scored first, and every game they’ve lost, it has been the opponent scoring first.

 

Key Players:

Ben Aklinski:

            When Ben Aklinski is rolling, the Rockers are rolling. Aklinski started the season with four homers and 15 RBIs, but since then has hasn’t picked up an RBI. In order for the Rockers to thrive, so must their three-year veteran outfielder.

Nick Longhi:

Longhi has been the Rockers most impactful offensive contributor this season. He has launched a league leading seven homers and has driven in a league leading 17 runs. In his past five games Longhi has hit three homers with two of those vs Southern Maryland in the three-game set at Waldorf. The Rockers need his bat to stay hot and continue to drive in runs.

Zander Wiel:

            If there was a player on the team against Southern Maryland that historically has come through for High Point, it would be Zander Wiel. In Wiel’s first two seasons with the Rockers, he launched 12 homers vs the Blue Crabs, the most he has vs. any Atlantic League club. In his Atlantic League career Wiel sits at 62 home runs and on Wednesday picked up his 200th Atlantic League RBI. Wiel has hit well against Southern Maryland before, and the Rockers will need him to do it again to turn the tide.

 

Keys Trends:

HR ball:

The Rockers have the most homers in the Atlantic league with 18 and have won every game this season that they out-homered their opponent. More than 57% of their offense production comes via the home run, demonstrating how vital it is to the Rockers success.

Taking Ball 4:

High Point walked more than anyone else in the league last year racking up 548 free bases. This season that trend has continued as the Rockers have drawn the second most walks. High Point has only won one game this year where its opponent has walked more than them. The Rockers have to take their walks and get on base for their power bats.

Containing the running game:

During the Rockers four game losing streak, High Point has surrendered 15 stolen bases. For the season they’ve allowed the second most stolen bases with 23 and have only caught two baserunners. However, over the past four games the Rockers have done a better job conceding just three SBs and stealing four themselves. This season the Rockers have won every game that they have as many or more stolen bases than their opponent.

 

About the Blue Crabs:

Southern Maryland comes into this three-game series at 6-7 just one game behind High Point, and four behind the division pacing Charleston Dirty Birds. The Blue Crabs lost their first two series of the year to Gastonia and Lexington but have since won their next two series vs Staten Island and High Point. They have yet to sweep an opponent or be swept by one.

 

Keys Players:

Anthony Brocato:

Brocato made his name known to Rocker fans this past series at Southern Maryland. He went 5-for-13 and smacked two homers in the rubber match on Thursday. He joins Ciaran Devenney as the only other Rocker opponent to hit two homers in a game vs them this season. Brocato has been doing damage against everyone this year though, his five homers puts him at second in the league, only behind the Rockers Nick Longhi. Brocato will have to continue his hot hitting to give the Blue Crabs a shot.

Juan Kelly:

Juan Kelly has been a thorn in the side of the Rockers this season. He went 3-for-9 in Waldorf and went back-to-back with Brocato in game three on Thursday. Kelly is hitting .341 on the season and his 14 RBIs ranks him third in the Atlantic League.

 

Key Trends:

Which offense shows up:

Southern Maryland ranks in the middle of the league in hits and runs, however they have the least doubles in the league with 11, in part explaining for their .388 slugging percentage, which ranks as the second-lowest mark in the Atlantic League. Yet, in all but one of the Blue Crabs victories they have scored seven or more runs. They did so Tuesday and Thursday against the Rockers. In game one they strung together 15 hits in the ballgame, 10 of which came against the Rockers starter Peter Solomon. And in game three they compiled 11 hits. However, in game two, the Blue Crabs mustered just three hits all game. Which version of the Blue Crabs offense shows up in High Point will greatly impact this three-game set.

Avoiding the Rockers strength:

The Rockers lead the Atlantic League in home runs and have drawn the second-most walks in the league. The Blue Crabs pitching has been their weakness. They have allowed the third-most earned runs, second-most homers and have conceded the third-most walks. The Southern Maryland pitching staff will have to bear down, limit the walks, and keep the ball in the park against High Point if they want to give themselves a shot.

Clean defense:

Southern Maryland has committed the second-most errors in the league with 14 and made four errors in the three-game set in Waldorf. They have allowed the third-most stolen bases and turned the third-fewest double plays. The team that plays clean defense will give themselves the best chance to take this series.

 

Pitching Matchup:

Fri: SMD – Garrett Martin vs HP – Jeremy Rhoades

Martin: 6.1IP (2G-1GS) / 1ER (1.42 ERA) / 3BB / 7Ks / 0HR allowed

Rhoades: 10IP (2GS) / 3ER (2.70 ERA) / 4BB / 11Ks

 

Sat: SMD – Daryl Thompson vs HP – Brandon Leibrandt

Thompson: 8.1IP (4G) / 0ER / 2BB:9Ks

Leibrandt: 9IP (2GS) / 0ER (0.00 ERA) / 1BB / 11Ks

 

Sun: SMD – Ian Kahaloa vs HP – TBA

Kahaloa: 14.2IP (3GS) / 10 ER (6.13 ERA) / 14BB:13Ks / 2HR allowed

TBA

 

Keys for Rocker Starters:

Rhoades has had a couple of strong starts to begin the year for High Point and Leibrandt has been nothing short of brilliant, but the key to their success this series is attacking the strike zone and being unpredictable. Rockers pitchers have conceded the fewest walks in the league and at times other teams have taken advantage, ambushing first pitch strikes. The Rockers pitchers must continue to throw strikes, but be “effectively wild.”

 

Milestone Watch:

Stan Cliburn, the Blue Crabs’ skipper, stands 28 wins away from 500 Atlantic League wins  and 33 from 2,000 career managerial victories. Rockers manager Jaime Keefe, has the third-best active win percentage in the Atlantic League and is six wins away from 300 Atlantic League Ws and 18 games away from 2,000 games managed.

 

How Can I Tune In?

            Friday and Saturday our coverage will start at 6:20 p.m. EDT with a first pitch time of 6:35 p.m. EDT. Our pregame coverage for Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. EDT game will begin at 3:50 p.m. EDT. Tune into the game on MixLR or watch the game on FloSports.

 

 

 

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers will open the 2024 season in grand style when two centenarian World War II veterans will each throw out the first pitch when the Rockers play their home opener on Tuesday, April 30 against the Charleston Dirty Birds. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

Frank Myers, 100, of Archdale, and Jim “Tanker” Deal, 101 ½, will each share the honor of throwing out the first pitch of the season for the Rockers. They will be joined by newly-elected High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson.

Myers, 100, is the oldest of 10 children and he joined the Army/Air Force to help support his family. He served for nearly four years, training as an aerial gunner and aviation mechanic on B-17, B-24, and B-25 aircraft. He and his wife, Cleo Rush, have been married for 76 years and have two daughters, one grandson and three great grandchildren. Myers has resided in the High Point/Trinity area for his entire life.

Deal, 101, was born in Woodleaf, N.C. and was the youngest of 12 children. A member of the 737^th Tank Battalion, he was a gunner inside a Sherman tank and arrived on the beaches of Normandy on June 12, 1944. He served under General George S. Patton in the Third Army and saw action throughout France and Central Europe including the Battle of the Bulge. A Purple Heart recipient, he spent 35 years working for Southern Railway before retiring.

“Our commitment to honoring our veterans happens at every Rockers game with our Row of Honor,” said Rockers President Pete Fisch. “We are honored to have Mr. Deal and Mr. Myers at Truist Point to help us celebrate the start of a new baseball season.”

The Rockers currently have a special offer on tickets for the first series of the season as fans can purchase four tickets for the discounted price of just $29. Tickets are available online at HighPointRockers.com and also at the Truist Point Box Office on Gatewood Ave.