HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point Rockers right-handed pitcher James Marvel on Friday had his contract purchased by the Texas Rangers and he will be assigned to Class AAA Round Rock. Marvel is the 26^th member of the Rockers to have their contract purchased by an MLB organization.

Marvel made one start for the Rockers, throwing five innings vs. Long Island on April 30. He allowed just four hits while walking one and striking out three. He was scheduled to start today (Saturday, May 6) for the Rockers.

A 2015 graduate of Duke, Marvel has previously pitched in the Major Leagues, having made four starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019. That season, he won 16 games, the most of any pitcher in the minors and was named the Pirates’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He tied for the minor league lead with 28 games started and was second in MiLB with two shutouts.

Marvel is not the first Rocker to have his contract purchased after a short time in High Point. In 2021, RHP Jake Petricka had his contract purchased by the Los Angeles Angels after one relief appearance. Also in 2021, David Robertson appeared in two games for the Rockers before going to Tampa Bay. Robertson pitched in the 2022 World Series with the Phillies and is currently with the New York Mets where he has an ERA of 0.63.

The Rockers also have added OF John Daly to the roster from the Inactive List. Daly had pulled a hamstring during Spring Training and will be active for the first time. A former high school and college dual sport athlete, Daly was an outstanding wide receiver and outfielder at the University of Albany. He played in the Pecos League in 2022 and will be making his Atlantic League debut in 2023.

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. In 2022, the Rockers reached the League Championship Series of the 10-team Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League with clubs from New York to North Carolina.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary season in 2023, 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. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers on Thursday announced the return of three key players from the 2022 club that won the Atlantic League South Division championship. Catcher Mike Gulino, lefthanded reliever Gabriel Castellanos and righthanded starter Ivan Pineyro are each under contract for the 2023 season.

The Rockers reached the Atlantic League Championship Series last year after taking the South Division title series from Gastonia in five games.

Gulino, a catcher, will be back for his third season with the Rockers after joining the club in June 2021. He split the catching duties in 2022 and hit .221 in 71 games while adding two home runs and 24 RBI. Gulino posted a sterling .990 fielding percentage, committing just five errors in nearly 500 chances.

The lefthanded Castellanos signed with the Rockers in July 2022 after having been out of professional baseball for three seasons. He had played in the Miami Marlins’ farm system including a stint in Greensboro in 2015. Castellanos was a key lefthanded arm out of the Rockers’ bullpen, appearing in 18 games and recording a 2.57 ERA.

Pineyro joined the Rockers’ starting rotation in June and won five games, tied for the second-most among starters. He was 5-3 on the year with a 3.76 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. Pineyro won two of his first three starts and posted a pair of wins each over Southern Maryland and Charleston.

“All three of these guys played a key role for us last year,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “Mike has a lot of experience in our system and is great with our pitchers. Gabriel gave us a solid lefthanded option out of the bullpen and was successful in getting us out of a lot of jams. Ivan was a strong addition to our starting rotation, and we expect him to return to that role again this year.”

The Rockers will open the 2023 season at home on April 28 with the Long Island Ducks. High Point will play its first 10 games at Truist Point through May 8.  Individual game tickets will go on sale starting March 31.

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. In 2022, the Rockers reached the League Championship Series of the 10-team Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League with clubs from New York to North Carolina.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary season in 2023, 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. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers on Tuesday announced the signing of three newcomers for the 2023 season. Catcher Tyler Blaum and pitcher Courtney Mack each played in the Atlantic League in 2022 while outfielder John Daly will make his ALPB debut.

Mack, 30, will begin his second year of professional baseball after playing with three Atlantic League teams in 2022. He debuted with Kentucky in July and made one start, going five innings and allowing just one hit in a win over Lexington. After being released, he signed with Charleston and made five appearances, all out of the bullpen. He then finished the season with York, posting a 2-1 record in eight games including six starts with one of those wins coming against the Rockers on Sept. 18. For his first season in professional baseball, Mack was 3-2 with a 6.56 ERA in 15 appearances.

“Courtney is a very promising pitcher who showed what he can do when given the opportunity,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “He was out of baseball for a couple of years but he continues to work hard and is progressing every day.”

Blaum, 24, will be a strong defensive addition to the Rockers. While playing collegiately at Virginia-Wise, Blaum became the first player in school history to be awarded a Rawlings Gold Glove after playing error-free baseball in 2021. He threw out 11 of 24 base-stealers and was named the top defensive catcher in the South Atlantic Conference. He broke into the Atlantic League in 2022 with the Charleston Dirty Birds, hitting .239 with a pair of home runs and 21 RBI in 83 games. Following his college career, Blaum joined the United Shore League in 2021 before moving to Joliet, Ill. in the Frontier League.

“Tyler will really solidify our defensive behind the plate,” said Keefe. “He has proven he is an outstanding catcher and that will be his primary duty, to provide great defense and work in sync with our pitching staff.”

Daly, 24, is an outfielder who played at the State University of New York at Albany, compiling a .297 average with five home runs and 32 RBI as a senior in 2022. Before joining the Great Danes, Daly was a third team All-American at Rockland Community College, posting a career .395 batting average with 18 doubles and eight home runs. In 2023, Daly hit .353 in 16 games with Bakersfield in the Pecos League.

“John really surprised us during a showcase event over the winter,” said Keefe. “He can run and is a former football player so he brings a certain level of grit to the game. He will run through the outfield wall for you and will be a big help defensively.”

The Rockers will open the 2023 season at home on April 28 with the Long Island Ducks. High Point will play its first 10 games at Truist Point through May 8.  Individual game tickets will go on sale starting March 31.

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. In 2022, the Rockers reached the League Championship Series of the 10-team Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League with clubs from New York to North Carolina.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary season in 2023, 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. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers have announced that outfielder Ben Aklinski and pitcher Neil Uskali will return to the club in 2023.

Aklinski was one of the top hitters on the Rockers last year, posting a .268 batting average with 19 homers and 74 RBI. He led the team in runs scored (93), doubles (33) and stolen bases (20). Aklinski was fourth in the Atlantic League in runs while ranking sixth in doubles and extra base hits (55) in 2022. The former Kentucky Wildcat spent the 2021 season with the Lexington Legends before joining the Rockers prior to the 2022 season.

In his first season in High Point, Aklinski was named to the Ballpark Digest ALPB Mid-Season All-Star team, led the club with 32 multi-hit games and delivered the game-winning blow in four walk-off victories. He tied for the team lead with two grand slams. Aklinski also had one of the two inside-the-park home runs hit by a Rocker in 2022.

Uskali will begin his third season with the Rockers where he has posted a 7-6 record as a starter in his two seasons. His five wins in 2022 were the second-most among Rockers’ starters and Uskali earned the win in High Point’s 6-1 win over Gastonia in the South Division championship that evened the series at 2-2. During the 2022 regular season, Uskali was 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA and was second on the team with 16 starts, 83.2 innings pitched and fourth with 54 strikeouts.

“Having Ben and Neil back gives this club some continuity and a pair of experienced Rockers who will be great assets both on the field and in the clubhouse,” said Rockers’ manager Jamie Keefe.

The Rockers will open the 2023 season at home on April 28 with the Long Island Ducks. High Point will play its first 10 games at Truist Point through May 8.  Individual game tickets will go on sale starting March 31.

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. In 2022, the Rockers reached the League Championship Series of the 10-team Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League with clubs from New York to North Carolina.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary season in 2023, 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. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

Editor’s Note:  Birthname is Dai-Kang Yang, born in Taiwan. Attended high school in Japan where his “nickname” was Daikan Yoh. Yoh is a preferred usage. Pronounced DYE-gong Yang (Yo).

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers have landed the first Taiwanese player in franchise history with the signing of Dai-Kang Yang. The outfielder and first baseman spent 16 seasons in the Japanese major leagues and was a teammate of the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani for five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters.

During his 15 years in the Japanese Professional Leagues, Yoh, 36, hit 142 home runs and drove in nearly 600 runs while posting a .275 career batting average. He was twice named the MVP of the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Series in 2012 and 2014. He won the league’s Gold Glove award in 2012 and 2013. Yoh’s top season in Japan came in 2014 when he hit .293 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI while adding 20 stolen bases. In 2016, Yoh led the Ham Fighters to the Pacific League and Japan Series championships.

In 2017, Yoh became a free agent and signed with the Yomiuri Giants, spending five seasons with the Japanese Central League club.

“We have never signed a player with as much experience as Dai-Kang,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “He spent 16 years in Japan’s top professional league and there’s still plenty left in his tank. He’ll be a good addition to our club this season.”

During his illustrious career, Yoh has represented the Chinese Taipei national team at multiple international tournaments including the World Baseball Classic (2006, 2013), the Asia Games and the Premier 12.

Yoh played his first season in the United States in 2022, hitting .260 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 79 games with Lake Country of the American Association. He spent the most recent offseason playing in Australia with the Brisbane Bandits and helping the club to the Northeast Division title.

The Rockers will open the 2023 season at home on April 28 with the Long Island Ducks. High Point will play its first 10 games at Truist Point through May 8.

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. In 2022, the Rockers reached the League Championship Series of the 10-team Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League with clubs from New York to North Carolina.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary season in 2023, 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. ALPB has sent over 1,200 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 45 million fans to its family-friendly ballparks throughout its 25-year history. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – T.J. Bennett, an infielder who drove in a career-best 56 RBI last year in the American Association, has signed a contract with the High Point Rockers for the 2023 season.

Bennett spent the 2022 season at Lake Country (Oconomowoc, WI) of the American Association where he drove in a career-best 56 RBI while hitting .275 with 17 homers in 96 games. During the recently-completed Australian League season, Bennett led the league with 17 homers and 42 RBI in just 40 games while ranking among the top 10 hitters in the league with a .315 batting average.

“T.J. is a great addition to our club,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “He has had a couple of really good seasons in the American Association and had a fantastic winter in Australia.  T.J. will help solidify us both at third base and offensively. I’m looking forward to him having a really good year.”

Bennett, 30, played at Oral Roberts as a freshman then spent two seasons at the University of Utah before embarking on his professional career. He played in the Frontier League and also spent five seasons with Brisbane in the Australian League. He was signed as a free agent by the San Francisco Giants in 2016 and spent three seasons in the farm system, reaching Class AAA. Bennett’s last four seasons have been spent in the American Association.

The Rockers will open the 2023 season on Friday, April 28 at Truist Point when they host the Long Island Ducks in the first of a three-game weekend series.