FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
BOONE, N.C. — Michael Rogers, a two-time all-America pitcher at NC State and six-year professional baseball veteran, has joined Appalachian State University’s baseball staff as an assistant coach, head coach Billy Jones announced on Thursday. Rogers will serve as the Mountaineers’ pitching coach.
“Michael Rogers is one of the fiercest competitors I know. His enthusiasm and work ethic will be infectious throughout our clubhouse,” Jones said. “He holds himself to a high standard and will bring that standard to our pitching staff. His ability to relate and jump in the trenches with our pitching staff is going to be evident right away.”
Rogers will be reunited at Appalachian State with Jones, who was an assistant coach at NC State when Rogers was a member of the Wolfpack’s starting pitching rotation from 2002-04. After a promising true freshman campaign was cut short due to injury, he went on be named a freshman all-American as a redshirt frosh in 2003 and earned third-team all-America accolades in both 2003 and 2004. He was also a two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree, a five-time ACC Pitcher of the Week and was named National Pitcher of the Week as a sophomore in ‘04.
The Oakland Athletics selected Rogers in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft (49th overall) and he spent four years in the A’s organization (2004-07), amassing over 430 innings while reaching the Double-A level. He also spent two seasons in the independent professional ranks with the Sussex Skyhawks of the Can-Am League (2008) and Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League (2009).
After retiring from professional baseball, Rogers served as a pitching instructor with ITS Baseball in Durham and USA Baseball before opening the Michael Rogers Baseball Academy in his hometown of Hamilton, N.J. in 2010. He has served as the academy’s owner and operator the past two years, providing individual, group and team pitching instruction to players ages 6-20, teaching coaching clinics and designing offseason and in-season pitching programs for pitchers.
“Michael is a proven winner that is self-made,” Jones continued. “During our time at NC State, I always knew in the back of my mind that he would make a great coach one day and I feel fortunate that he wanted to jump in with both feet with me here at Appalachian State. He comes from a great family and is greatly supported by his wife, Morgan, and his son, Drew.”
“I am very excited to join the Appalachian State baseball staff,” Rogers said. “After playing for Coach Jones and knowing the type of person he is, I have tremendous respect for him and know we will do great things for this program. I look forward to the challenges ahead as we look to return to the NCAA Tournament. After walking on to campus, it was clear this was a great opportunity for myself and family and I’m excited to get started.”
Rogers graduated from NC State in 2009 with a B.S. in parks, recreation and tourism management. He and his wife, Morgan, have a son, Drew (1), and are expecting their second child in September.
