Dalton, Evan Rogers continue their baseball bond
Editor’s note: The Boston Red Sox selected Dalton Rogers with the No. 99 pick in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft on July 18.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (BVM) — The Rogers brothers have played baseball for most of their lives. Now both Dalton and Evan are ready to show the country they can succeed on the diamond at any level.
“They’re both fierce competitors and take pride in what they do,” Northwest Rankin High School head baseball coach K.K. Aldridge said.
Dalton currently pitches for the University of Southern Mississippi where he is having a fantastic year on the mound. In 22 appearances, he has an overall record of 1-1, a 2.04 ERA and has struck out 54 batters in 35 ⅓ innings of work.
Fired. Up. 🔥 #EverythingMatters | @DaltonRogers13 pic.twitter.com/jfS1zJEVwu
— Southern Miss Baseball (@SouthernMissBSB) May 26, 2022
“It’s rewarding to see any of your guys have success,” Aldridge said. “But to see Dalton pitch in big games, I’m very happy for him. He’s put in the time and the effort to be successful.”
Flourishing on the mound has not only helped Dalton out, but it has also helped the Golden Eagles accomplish something that has never been done in program history: host a super regional.
“Not many players get the opportunity to do that (play in the super regionals),” Evan said. “Knowing my brother is out there doing that is very special to look up to him as he’s on the big stage doing that.”
Now, just as Dalton has helped his team accomplish something extraordinary, Evan also helped North Rankin do something significant too. That was capturing a state title for the first time since 2005.
“It meant a lot to me,” Evan said. “It’s very rare for something like that to happen and [especially] to help make that happen. Some people take that for granted, and I sure as heck didn’t. The team was very special, and I knew this group had an opportunity to win a state championship, and we ended up doing it. When we won, I was speechless…It was incredible. It’s a feeling I’ll always remember for the rest of my life.”
During his senior campaign state title run, Evan had an OPS of .776 and scored 43 runs. And just like his brother, he took to the mound. On the mound, he had an overall record of 4-0, 40 strikeouts in 33 ⅓ innings of work and had an ERA of 1.26.
“We had a good group of leaders, and Evan was a part of that,” Aldridge said. “Those seniors worked so hard, and it was good to see all their hard work pay off.”
Along with hard work, there has to be passion. For Evan, that passion for playing baseball has burned for a long time. He’ll be heading to Jones County Junior College to further his baseball career.
“Baseball means a lot to me,” Evan said. “I grew up playing baseball. I’ve played since I was 3 or 4 years old. It’s a passion [of mine]. Some people get burnt out on baseball, but I’ve never had the feeling where I’ve said, ‘I can’t play this [game] anymore.’ I’ve wanted to play every single day. I wake up and work out and do as much as I can to get ready for the next level.”
For the Rogers brothers, baseball has meant a lot and will continue to mean so much. And both of them have accomplished many great things. But more importantly, they will continue to have the bond of brotherhood. And when that’s paired with their passion for baseball, that brotherhood will only continue to grow stronger.
“Having another chance [to play] with him again would be incredible,” Evan said. “It’s the little things you never realize it was such a big moment [for us]. If I could get another chance with him, it’d be incredible.”
