4 Rockers Named to ALPB Red, White, and Blue All-Defensive Team

Rockers Land 4 on All-Defensive Team
Taylor, Long, Jr., Burt, Jannis recognized for defense

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers landed four players on the Atlantic League’s Red, White & Blue All-Defensive team as announced by the league on Tuesday. Catcher Beau Taylor, second baseman Shed Long, Jr., center fielder D.J. Burt and pitcher Mickey Jannis all earned recognition on the team for their outstanding defense.

Taylor, Long, Jr. and Jannis all joined the Rockers after having spent time at the Major League level.

Taylor made just three errors on the season and had a fielding percentage of .994. Long, Jr. was consistently outstanding and committed just four errors in 76 games at second base while also marking 17 games at shortstop. He was a part of 49 double plays on the season.

Burt made a number of spectacular defensive plays during the year including a diving catch on the warning track against York on August 19 that became the No. 4 “Play of the Day” on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Jannis had 16 assists as a pitcher, the fourth-highest total among Atlantic League pitchers. He committed just one error on the season.

A complete listing of the Red, White & Blue All-Defensive team follows:

2023 Red, White and Blue All-Defensive Team

C         Beau Taylor, High Point Rockers

1B       Drew Mendoza, York Revolution

2B       (Tie) Shed Long, Jr., High Point Rockers and Melvin Mercedes, Lancaster Barnstormers

SS        Ruben Tejada, Long Island Ducks

3B       Trace Loehr, Lancaster Barnstormers

OF       D.J. Burt, High Point /Rockers

OF       Braxton Lee, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

OF       Tomo Otosaka, York Revolution

P          Mickey Jannis, High Point Rockers

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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.