Rogers Signs Free Agent Contract with Phillies
Evan Rogers has signed a free agent baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
MARS HILL, N.C. – Evan Rogers has signed a free agent baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Rogers joins teammate Patrick Riehl in the professional ranks. Riehl was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week.
Mars Hill University Head Baseball Coach Aaron Rembert stated, "This is truly a special moment for Evan and his family. Over the past four years he has worked extremely hard on the field and in the weight room to put himself in the position to play professional baseball. He separated himself by getting extra lifts in the mornings, being the first one and last one to leave practice and engaging in getting better in every part of his game daily. From day one, he has been processed oriented and he was rewarded with a great collegiate career and an opportunity to play professionally. The Phillies are lucky to have him and he will make the organization better each day. He has earned it and the MHU family looks forward to following his professional career."
Rogers is a senior shortstop from Kernersville, N.C. Prior to being named to the NCBWA All-American first team, he has been selected to the HERO Sports All-American team, ABCA/Rawlings All-Southeast Region first team and selected to the D2SIDA NCAA Southeast Region team. Rogers was the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, named to the 2016 NCAA Division II National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Southeast Region first team and was a first team All-SAC selection. Rogers was also voted the Mars Hill University Male Athlete of the Year.
Rogers' 19 homeruns on the season set a new Mars Hill record while also ranking first in the conference. Evan was also able to lead the team and conference in runs (66) and slugging percentage (.855). A .390 batting average was tops among the Blue and Gold as well as a career-high 55 runs batted in. Rogers' most impressive game came in a 10-8 win over Wingate on February 28, belting three dingers and tallying six RBI.
Mars Hill finished the 2016 campaign with a 30-18 overall record, the most wins since the 2006 team collected 32 wins.
