South Division Archives | Page 6 of 7 | High Point Rockers Baseball

Taylor Guerrieri

September 14, 2022 by Tanner Smith

HIGH SCHOOL: Spring Valley HS, Columbia, S.C.

STATUS
• Signed with the Rockers on May 16, 2023
• A first round pick of Tampa Bay in 2011, he is the second former Tampa first rounder to play for High Point, joining 2012 pick Richie Shaffer (Rocker in 2019)

CAREER NOTES
• Spent two seasons in MLB, with Toronto in 2018 and Texas in 2019
• Has a career 5.81 ERA in 20 MLB appearances with 27 strikeouts in 26.1 innings

2023
• Spent the entire season in the Rockers bullpen
• Appeared in 30 games, going 2-1 with a 4.55 ERA
• Tossed 29.2 innings while allowing 26 hits, 16 walks and striking out 30
2022
• Did not play
2021
• Split time between Seattle’s AAA Tacoma club and Philadelphia’s AAA Lehigh Valley
• Combined to go 3-1 with a 4.61 ERA in 22 appearances, all in relief… Tossed 35.2 innings and struck out 38 while walking 15
• Signed with Seattle as a free agent on 2/9/2021
• Chose free agency following the 2021 season with Philadelphia
2020
• Member of the Texas Rangers organization and went to spring training
2019
• Went to spring training on a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers
• Started the season with AAA Nashville before being called up to the Rangers on 7/16/19
• Made his first appearance as a Ranger on 7/16/19 vs. Arizona
• Had two outings of 3.0 innings and fanned a season-high four batters on two occasions
2018
• Made his MLB debut with Toronto at Miami with two innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out one
• Made nine appearances for the Blue Jays and struck out eight in 9.2 innings
• Started the season with AAA Buffalo before being called up to MLB Toronto on 9/1/2018
2017
• Spent most of the season on the injury list and made two appearances at AAA Durham in the Tampa Bay organization, striking out 12 in 9.1 innings
2016
• Recorded a 12-6 record as a starter at AA Montgomery for Tampa Bay
• Pitched 146 innings with 89 strikeouts and 46 walks while allowing 130 hits with a 3.76 ERA
2015
• Split time between Tampa’s A+ club in Port Charlotte, FL and AA Montgomery, combining to go 5-3 as a starter
• Appeared in 20 games with 18 starts, hurling 78 innings and striking out 72 with just 19 walks
2014
• Made five appearances at the Rays Gulf Coast League complex with 10 strikeouts in 9.1 innings, yielding just seven hits and two walks
2013
• Went 6-2 in 14 starts with a 21.28 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 67 innings with 12 walks
• Named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week on 5/13/13 while pitching for the Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Earned Mid-Season All-Star status with Bowling Green and participated in the Futures Game
• Underwent Tommy John surgery on 7/24/13
2012
• Started his pro career at A-Hudson Valley (New York-Penn) with 12 starts and a 1-2 record with 45 strikeouts in 52 innings while walking just five walks
• Was a Mid-Season All-Star with Hudson Valley and the Topps New York-Penn League Player of the Year
• Named a Tampa Bay Rays MiLB Organization All-Star
2011
• Signed with Tampa on 8/15/2011
• Pitched for Spring Valley High in Columbia, SC as a senior
• Was rated the state’s top baseball prospect by Diamond Prospects and Baseball America
• Ranked as the No. 23 prospect nationally in the class of 2012
• Was hitting 95-98 during his senior year in high school, going 6-1 with a 1.10 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 51 innings
• Regularly pitched in front of 20 MLB scouts
• Other 2011 MLB first round picks included Gerrit Cole (1), Trevor Bauer (3), Anthony Rendon (6), Francisco Lindor (8), Javier Baez (9), George Springer (11), Sonny Gray (18)
2010
• As a high school senior, signed a National Letter of Intent to attend South Carolina
• Transferred from North Augusta, SC to Columbia Spring Valley HS
2009
• Pitched at North August High School
2007
• Helped North Augusta to the South Carolina Dixie Youth 14s state tournament
PERSONAL
• Christopher Taylor Guerrieri

Mickey Jannis

July 31, 2022 by Steve Shutt

COLLEGE: Cal State Bakersfield
HIGH SCHOOL: Arroyo Grande HS, Arroyo Grande, CA
DRAFT: 44th round, 2010, Tampa Bay

STATUS
• Signed with the Rockers on July 30, 2022
• Activated on July 31, 2022
• Returned to the Rockers for spring training 2023

CAREER NOTES
• Signed with the Rockers on 7/30/22
• Was 39-48, with 4.37 ERA in eight minor league seasons
• Went 28-33 at Class AA and 0-9 at Class AAA
• Has a 12-6 career Atlantic League record with a 2.38 ERA including stints with Bridgeport, So. Maryland and Long Island
• Was the only knuckleball pitcher in the Major Leagues at the time of his debut in 2021
• Started throwing the knuckleball at age 12

2022
• Joined the Rockers on 7/30/22 and went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 11 appearances including three starts
• Allowed just 23 hits in 39.2 innings while striking out 44 and walking 20
• Held opponents to a .163 batting average
• Earned wins over Charleston (8/18) and Gastonia (9/1/22), both in relief
• Was 0-2 with a no-decision in his three regular season starts
• Struck out season-best eight in 4.0 innings in a win at Charleston (8/18/22)
• Longest stint was 7.2 innings in a start vs. Lancaster (9/7/22) in which he struck out seven and only allowed one run
• Earned Game 1 starts in both of High Point’s playoff series, losing to Gastonia in the South Division Championship series and getting a no-decision vs. Lancaster in the League Championship Series

2021
• Made his Major League debut 6/23/21 with the Orioles while also spending time at Baltimore’s AAA Norfolk and AA Bowie clubs
• Went 3.1 innings with eight hits, seven runs, four walks and a strikeout in a start against the Houston Astros
• Struck out the first batter he faced in MLB, Yordan Alvarez
• At age 33, was the third-oldest pitcher to debut with the Astros.
• Was a combined 0-7 in 19 appearances, 11 starts
• Struck out 49 in 76 innings while walking 38
2020
• Did not play due to COVID-19
2019
• Member of the New York Mets organization, spending time at AAA Syracuse and AA Binghamton
• Was 7-5 at Binghamton with a 3.10 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 119 innings while walking 31
2018
• Was 10-6 with a 3.60 ERA in 23 starts at Binghamton where Frank Viola was his pitching coach
• Struck out 114 in 142.1 innings with 36 walks
• Made two starts at AAA Las Vegas, going 0-2 with a 14.63 ERA
2017
• Posted an 8-7 record with a 3.60 ERA at Binghamton with 83 strikeouts in 122.1 innings and 38 walks.
2016
• Was a combined 5-12 as a starter with a 5.69 ERA between 23 starts at AA Binghamton and four starts at A+ St. Lucie
2015
• Played with the Long Island Ducks in 2015, going 6-2 with a miniscule 1.18 ERA in 11 starts
• Fanned 67 in 83.2 innings with just 53 hits and 26 walks
• Also spent time at A+ St. Lucie (2-1, 2.98) and AA Binghamton (0-2, 5.54)
2014
• Totaled a 7-5 record with 3.48 ERA including 10 starts with Southern Maryland (4-1, 2.37) and 12 starts with Lake Erie of the Frontier League (3-4, 4.45)
2013
• Made 24 appearances (4 starts) with Lake Erie of the Frontier League, posting 7-2 record with 2.66 ERA
• Made 10 appearances, all in relief with Bridgeport of the Atlantic League, going 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA.
2012
• Was 1-4 in 34 appearances, 3 starts with Lake Erie (Frontier League) with 2.53 ERA and six saves
• Struck out 46 and walked 14 in 74.2 innings
2011
• Split time between Tampa Bay farm teams at A+ Charlotte (2 apps, 5 IP) and A- Hudson Valley (4-3, 2.92), primarily as a reliever
2010
• Started his professional career with Princeton in the Appalachian League, going 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 14 relief appearances.
• Struck out 29 and walked 11 in 35.2 innings
2009
• Was Cal St. Bakersfield’s first starting pitcher when they started the team in 2009
• Held defending national champion Fresno State hitless for 5.2 innings (3/13/09) while striking out eight.
• Earned his first win of the season in relief at Nebraska (5/9/09)
• Fanned a season-high 10 vs. Cal State Northridge (5/19/09)
2008
• Was the Western State Conference North relief pitcher of the year in 2008 at Allan Hancock college
2007
• Had one win and a 2.95 ERA in 25 innings at Consumnes River College
2006
• First team All-Pac 5 Conference third baseman and pitcher as a senior at Arroyo Grande High.
• Also named the Eagles’ MVP
• Earned three team MVP awards in tennis.
• Cousin of Patrick Ahearne, a 15-year minor league player and member of the 1992 College World Series champion Pepperdine.
• Newphew of Australian Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Jannis

Jonah Scolaro

June 20, 2022 by Steve Shutt

STATUS
• Signed with the Rockers on June 13 after completing his season at Florida State

CAREER NOTES
• Made his professional debut with the High Point Rockers
• Had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox 7/20/22

2023
• Made five appearances at Class A+ Winston-Salem before being promoted to AA Birmingham
• Was 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA at Birmingham with 66 strikeouts in 55.2 innings

2022

• Helped Florida State to a Top 10 national ranking (No. 7, 3/28)
• Posted wins over Cal (3/4), Jacksonville (5/10)
• Had three saves and a team-high 28 saves
• Made 26 of his 28 saves in relief
• Played for the head coach Mike Martin, Jr.
2021
• Led the ACC with 31 appearances
• Was a Cape Cod League All-Star while pitching for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks
• Fanned 26 batters in 23.2 innings for the Seminoles
• His 31 appearances were tied for 12th-most in the nation
• Posted a 2.28 ERA with one save, that coming in the ACC Tournament against Miami
2020
• Fanned 11 batters in six innings of work over eight appearances as a junior
• Posted a 4.50 ERA
• Season was shortened due to Covid-19
2019
• Appeared in 26 games for Florida State, posting a 3-2 record with a 4.69 ERA and two saves
• Became the first player in 50 years at the CWS to face at least six batters and strike out all six (vs. Texas Tech)
• Also struck out six against Wake Forest in a career-long four innings of work
• Saves came against Wake Forest and Louisville
• Posted wins vs. Boston College, Stetson and Pitt
• Pitched for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks in the Cape Cod League
2018
• Earned Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball
• Led the Seminoles with six saves in 27 relief appearances
• Five of his six saves were at least three innings
• Earned the win in relief of Florida State’s win over Louisville to win the 2018 ACC Championship
• Started his collegiate career with six shutout innings out of the bullpen
2017
• Graduated from Durant High in Valrico, Florida
• Posted a 5-2 record with a 1.05 ERA and 85 strikeouts in just 45 innings as a senior
• Set the Durant record for career strikeouts with 306
• Four-time All-county selection and honorable mention All-American
• Hit .385 with nine doubles, two triples and a pair of home runs
• Named second team All-Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Times
2016
• Tossed a no-hitter in the Class 8A-Distrcit 6 semifinals against Riverview while striking out 13
• Named a Tampa Tribune Athlete of the Week for his no-hitter
• Went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the district final win over Plant City
• Named third team All-Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Times
2015
• Hit .343 while going 9-1 with a 1.24 ERA and 92 strikeouts for Durant High.
• Helped the Cougars to the state semifinals as a sophomore.
• Played for Coach Butch Valdes.
• Led the team in hitting as well with a .354 average.

PERSONAL
• Jonah Michael Scolaro
• Father, Donny, spent two years n the Houston Astros organization as an infielder after being a 22nd round pick in 1994.

Michael Martinez

March 27, 2022 by Chris Whitesell

COLLEGE: None
HIGH SCHOOL: San Lorenzo, Santo Domingo, DR

See Michael's Stats

CAREER NOTES
• Began his career in 2005 in the Washington Nationals organization as an amateur free agent.
• Has played 1,794 career games at the professional level with 1,508 hits, 609 RBI and 165 stolen bases.
• Is a career .258 hitter in his 15 professional seasons.
• Has 295 career games played at the Major League level
• Has hit .296 in 126 games with the Rockers over the 2020-21 seasons

2022
• Hit .304 with 13 doubles, five homers and 35 RBI in his second season with the Rockers
• Slammed a three-run homer in a 13-5 home win over Lexington on 6/25/22
• Hit a walk-off grand slam to down Lancaster 5-1 on 9/7/22
• Had an excellent September, hitting .458 (22-for-48) with a pair of homers and 12 RBI in 12 games
• Had four-hit games vs. Lexington (5/19/22) and at Kentucky (9/11/22) with a pair of doubles vs. the Genomes
• Had four-RBI games vs. Lexington (6/25/22) and Lancaster (6/7/22)
• Went 5-for-12 (.238) in the postseason

2021

• Acquired along with Huascar Brazoban from the Lancaster Barnstormers (Atlantic) in a trade on 3/4/21 • Joined the Rockers on 8/6/21 following COVID-19 visa issues
• Played in 51 games and hit .286 with four home runs and 30 RBI
• His .286 batting average was the highest in club history for a switch-hitter

• Had a 9-game hitting streak (8/12/21-8/21/21)
• Homered in back-to-back games against Lexington (8/18 & 8/19/21)
• Collected season-high four hits vs. Long Island (8/8/21)
• Drove in three runs at Gastonia (9/17/21)
2020
• Spent the 2019-20 season with Estrellas de Oriente in San Pedro de Macoris (Dominican Winter League), hitting .238 in 19 games.
2019
• Signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers on 3/11/19 . . . Played in 97 games and hit .252 with 9 home runs and 42 RBI … Posted an OPS of .663.
2018
• Assigned to the AAA Columbus Clippers (Indians) on 4/6/18 … Elected free agency (11/2/18).
• Suffered torn left Achilles tendon during training exercises in late January, undergoing surgery in Cleveland on 1/31/18.
2017
• Split season between Cleveland and Tampa Bay organizations, spending the first two and a half months of the season at the Major League level before ending the season in AAA Columbus … Appeared in six games at third base for Cleveland with three games at second and two games in center field (1G at SS) … Also made his Major League pitching debut with a scoreless inning on 4/13/17 vs. the Chicago White Sox … DFA on 5/14/17 and signed by Tampa Bay four days later … With Colum- bus, appeared at every position except first base, pitcher and catcher.
2016
• Spent much of the season in a utility role with Cleveland along with stints in AAA Columbus and with the Boston Red Sox in July … Promoted to Cleveland on 5/14/16 when Michael Brantley returned to the injured list and Martinez spent the next six weeks on the Major League roster … Acquired by the Red Sox for cash on 7/8/16 and spent a month on the MLB roster before being DFA on 8/2/16 and claimed two days later by Cleveland … Spent the rest of the season on the MLB roster and was on all three Postseason rosters, appearing in seven of the 15 games.
2015
• Spent most of the season in AAA Columbus, battng .289 with 24 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 42 RBI and 53 runs scored in 102 games . . . At the time of his 9/4/15 promotion to Cleveland, ranked 11th in the International League in battng average … Appeared in 66 games at second base, 19 games in CF, 13 games at SS, four games at 3B and three games in RF … Made seven starts with Cleveland (2 CF, 5 LF).
2014
• Spent the season in the Pittsburgh organization, splittng time between the MLB club and the AAA Indianapolis Indians (International) … Had two stints with the MLB Pirates (6/13 and 7/6-8/17/14).
2013
• Spent majority of the season with AAA Lehigh Valley but also had four separate stints with Philadelphia at the big league level.
2012
• Started season on 15-day injury list with fractured right foot suffered in a spring training game … Hit .271 in 32 games at AAA Lehigh Valley and .174 in 45 games with MLB Phillies.
2011
• Made his Major League debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on 4/3/11 and collected a hit and an RBI vs. Houston … Made 48 starts at five different positions during his first season in the Big Leagues.
2010
• Was an Eastern League (Mid-Season) All-Star with the AA Harrisburg Senators.
• Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2010 Rule Five Draft … Made MLB debut as a starter in CF on 4/3/11 vs. Houston and collected his first hit and RBI off Enerio Del Rosario … Recorded career-high four hits on 7/10/11 vs. Atlanta to become the first Phillies rookie with a four-hit game since Michael Bourn in 2007 … Hit first big league homer off New York Mets’ Mike Pelfrey on 7/17/11 at Citi Field … Collected 15 RBI in July of 2011, the third-most among National League rookies that month behind Freddie freeman (18) and Jesus Guzman (18).
2009
• Hit .293 in 49 games at A+ Potomac (Carolina) and .223 at AA Harrisburg (Eastern).
2008
• Played 104 games at A+ Potomac (Carolina) and hit .266 with 25 doubles, 58 RBI and 63 runs scored and a career-high 20 sacrifice hits.
2007
• Named the Dominican Winter League Rookie of the Year with Estrellas de Oriente
2006
• Named a New York-Penn League Mid-Season All-Star with the Vermont Lake Monsters … Finished that season ranked fourth in the league in batting average.
• Signed as an amateur free agent by the Washington Nationals.

PERSONAL

• Michael Gabriel Martinez Tiburcio

• Is a 2001 graduate of San Lorenzo High School in Santo Domingo … Attended San Lorenzo de Los Minas … Favorite player as a youth was Rey Ordoñez of the NY Mets.

Cooper Casad

March 27, 2022 by Chris Whitesell

COLLEGE: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
HIGH SCHOOL: Summerfield Waldorf, Santa Rosa, CA

See Cooper's Stats

CAREER NOTES

Didn’t play high school baseball because his school didn’t field a team.
Had not started a game as a professional until joining the Rockers’ in 2021.
Had his most productive and successful season as a pro with the Rockers in 2021.

2022
• Pitched in only two games before suffering an injury that required surgery
• Started the second game of the season at home against the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes (4/22/22)
• Had a no-decision despite going six innings and allowing five hits and one run with zero walks and six strikeouts
• Threw 83 pitches, 60 of them strikes
• Second start was at home vs. Lancaster on 4/28
• Picked up the win with 5.0 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts
• Threw 89 pitches, 53 for strikes
2021

Started the season in the bullpen for the Rockers but quickly became a fixture in the starting rotation
Finished the year with the team’s top ERA among starting pitchers at 4.73
Made 19 starts, second-only to Craig Stem’s 24
Posted a 7-4 record and was second to Tommy Lawrence in innings pitched with 123.2
Struckout 91 batters, the second-most on the club
Posted two wins against Southern Maryland (6/19 & 7/25) and one win apiece against Long Island (7/8), Gastonia (7/14), Charleston (7/31), Lexington and Lancaster • Named the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month in July after going 4-0 in six starts with a 2.89 ERA
Struck out 31 in 37.1 innings in July with just 10 walks
Finished the year seventh in the Atlantic League in ERA, seventh in innings pitched (123.2), fifth in opponent’s batting average (.269), fourth in WHIP (1.32) and sixth in winning percentage (.636).

2020

Released 5/28/20 with hundreds of other minor league players due to Covid-19.

2019

Pitched at four different levels in the Giants organization, combining to go 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 39 innings with just eight walks and 13 ER.
Made 15 appearances at A- Salem-Keizer (Northwest) where he was 1-1 with a 3.86 in 15 appearances, all in relief.
Made one relief appearance at A Augusta (South Atlantic), two appearances at A+ San Jose (California) and one scoreless outing at AA Richmond (Eastern).

2018 (Pacific/San Francisco Giants)

Posted a 3-6 record with a 3.93 mark as a senior at Pacific, making 18 appearances and 10 starts.
Was second on the team with 73.1 innings and third on the club with 46 strikeouts.
Threw a complete game in a loss to BYU (5/17/18).
Earned a save against Utah Valley (2/23/18) with four hitless innings of work and five strikeouts.
Named to the West Coast Conference All-Academic Team.
Undrafted, the San Francisco Giants signed him as a free agent and assigned him to the Arizona League.
Went 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA and moved to A- Salem-Keizer (Northwest) where he was 0-1 with a 2.84 in three appearances.

2017 (Pacific)

As a junior at Pacific, made 19 appearances including seven starts, going 2-5 with a 5.49 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 59 innings.
Threw a complete game in a win against St. Mary’s (4/22/17).

2016 (College of Marin)

Posted a 9-4 record with a 3.24 ERA over 91.2 innings.
Made 18 appearances (10 starts) and recorded a team-high 79 strikeouts en route to first team all-conference recognition.

2015 (College of Marin)

As a junior college freshman, posted a 3.26 ERA over 49.2 innings at College of Marin in Kentfield, Calif.
Went 3-0 with one save in 24 appearances in earning honorable mention all-conference honors.

2014 (Healdsburg)

Did not play baseball at Summerfield Waldorf, a small private school, because it didn’t field a team.
Played for a number of travel ball teams including the Healdsburg Prune Packers, a summer collegiate league team.

PERSONAL

Cooper Casad

Lexington Legends

March 26, 2022 by Chris Whitesell

The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a “partner league” of Major League Baseball.