Rockers sign pitching trio
May 14—HIGH POINT — The High Point Rockers have signed right-handed pitchers Cooper Casad, Ryan Chaffee and Ricky Knapp, the team announced Thursday.
All three players have minor-league experience, with Chaffee and Knapp reaching Triple-A and Casad reaching Double-A.
Casad, who is 25 years old from Santa Rosa, California, signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants in 2018 after going undrafted out of the University of the Pacific. In 2019, he went 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA with four teams, progressing from Single-A Augusta (Ga.) to Double-A Richmond (Va.).
He was released during the COVID-19 shutdown last season.
Chaffee, who is 33 years old from Niceville, Florida, has played 11 seasons professionally — tallying 46 wins and 48 saves. He pitched for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League in 2019, playing in 41 games.
He was a third-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2008 after leading Chipola (Fla.) College to the National Junior College World Series title in 2007. He was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher at the JUCO World Series.
Knapp, who is 28 years old from Port Charlotte, Florida, has played six seasons professionally as a starting pitcher — winning 35 games. He was an eighth-round pick by the New York Mets in 2013 after going 23-8 during his career at Florida Gulf Coast University.
He went 13-6 as a starter in 2016 between stops at Single-A St. Lucie (Fla.), Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas. Rockers pitching coach Frank Viola coached Knapp at Las Vegas in 2016 and 2017 and Binghamton in 2018.
The Rockers will begin their second season Friday, May 28, when they visit the York Revolution. Their home opener will be Tuesday, June 1, against the Lexington Legends. High Point's schedule features 120 games — including 60 slated for Truist Point.
