High Point Rockers Explained

High Point Rockers
Cap Logo:hprockers cap.png
League:Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Division:South Division
Location:High Point, North Carolina
Stadium:Truist Point
Founded:2018
Colors:Blue, red, yellow, white
Manager:Jamie Keefe
General Manager:Christian Heimall[1]
President:Pete Fisch[2]
Media:High Point Enterprise
Owner:High Point Baseball, Inc.
Coach:Frank Viola (pitching)

The High Point Rockers are an American professional minor-league baseball team based at Truist Point ballpark in High Point, North Carolina, which is part of the Piedmont Triad region. They are members of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball.[3] [4]

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.[5] On September 8, 2017, Frank Boulton (league founder and a team owner)[6] announced that the Bluefish would move to High Point, North Carolina.[7] The league instead unanimously approved a new franchise in High Point on March 12, 2018, to replace the Bluefish to begin play in 2019.[8] [9]

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

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.[12] On June 21, 2018, the names were narrowed down to Dragon Claws, Rockers, and Splinters.[13] [14] On July 12, 2018, Rockers was chosen as the team name.[15]

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.[16]

On April 1, 2019, the team revealed their mascot, a rocking horse, and invited the public to submit name suggestions.[17]

The Rockers won their inaugural home game, defeating the Sugar Land Skeeters on May 2, 2019.[18] [19]

Season by season results

!Year!Wins!Losses!Playoffs
20197466Lost Opening Round to Long Island Ducks
2020 Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
20216455did not qualify
20227161Defeated Gastonia in Southern Division - Lost Against Lancaster in Finals
Total2091821 Southern Championship (2022)

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Personnel news: Lansing, High Point . Ballpark Digest . August Publications . March 15, 2021 . March 12, 2021.
  2. News: Personnel News: High Point, Buffalo . Ballpark Digest . August Publications . March 10, 2020 . March 10, 2020.
  3. News: Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League . October 2, 2020 . Ballpark Digest . August Publishing . September 23, 2020.
  4. News: American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues . October 2, 2020 . Ballpark Digest . August Publishing . September 24, 2020.
  5. News: 2017 to be final season for Bridgeport Bluefish . WTNH. August 7, 2017. Matt. Dillane. May 26, 2018.
  6. News: Bush League Bonanza: Frank Boulton Builds An Empire In Baseball's Minors. Tom . Van Riper. August 12, 2013. Forbes. 106. May 29, 2018.
  7. Web site: Brasier . John. Atlantic League baseball will move, not expand, into High Point . Triad Business Journal. September 8, 2017 . February 2, 2018.
  8. News: Atlantic League set to expand to High Point, North Carolina, for 2019 baseball season. The York Dispatch. March 12, 2018 . March 12, 2018.
  9. March 12, 2018 . Atlantic League Approves High Point Membership for 2019 . Press release . Lancaster, Pennsylvania . Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) . May 29, 2018.
  10. News: Spedden. Zach. New for 2019: BB&T Point. April 17, 2018. Ballpark Digest. April 12, 2018.
  11. News: Rose. Alex. City leaders break ground for High Point stadium project; stadium to be named 'BB&T Point'. April 17, 2018. WGHP. April 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180417195111/http://myfox8.com/2018/04/11/city-leaders-break-ground-for-high-point-stadium-project-stadium-to-be-named-bbt-point/. April 17, 2018. live.
  12. News: Allman . Megan . Top 9 Names Revealed For High Point Baseball Team . June 23, 2018 . . June 7, 2018.
  13. Web site: Name The New High Point Baseball Team . June 21, 2018. June 23, 2018 . HighPointBaseball.com.
  14. News: High Point Name-The-Team Contest Yields Three Finalists . June 23, 2018. Ballpark Digest. June 23, 2018.
  15. News: Name of future High Point baseball team announced . July 13, 2018 . . July 12, 2018.
  16. 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 . November 29, 2018.
  17. News: Hodgin . Carrie . You Can Help Name High Point Rockers’ New Mascot! . April 19, 2019 . . April 1, 2019.
  18. News: High Point Rockers Top Sugar Land In Inaugural Home Game . May 3, 2019 . . May 2, 2019.
  19. News: High Point Rockers beat Sugar Land Skeeters in 3-0 home win on opening night . May 3, 2019 . . May 3, 2019 . en.