News

Former Rocker Alberto Baldonado Joins Nationals

September 2, 2021, High Point, N.C. – Alberto Baldonado, a relief pitcher for the 2019 High Point Rockers, has become the latest High Point Rocker to reach the Major Leagues when he was called up to the Washington Nationals on September 1. He is the third Rocker, and third reliever, to reach the Major Leagues in the last two weeks, joining David Robertson of Tampa Bay and Jake Petricka of the Los Angeles Angels. 

Baldonado appeared in 13 games for the Rockers in 2019, posting a record of 0-1 with a stellar 1.98 ERA, striking out 19 batters in 13.2 innings. He originally signed with the Rockers on June 16 of that year after being released from the Chicago Cubs. On July 30, he headed to Mexico to play for Sultanes de Monterrey. While in Monterrey, he posted an 0-1 record, while lowering his ERA to 1.59 in eight appearances. 
 
“Awesome kid,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe about Baldonado. “He just dominated from the first pitch. From the day he got here, he worked his butt off, so you knew he was going to get another shot somewhere. Hats off to him, we’re super excited.” 
 
Baldonado, 28, from Colon, Panama, was originally signed by the New York Mets in 2010, reaching their Class AAA affiliate in Las Vegas in 2017 before spending time in the Chicago Cubs organization in 2018 and 2019. 
 
Signed by the Washington Nationals ahead of the 2021 season, Baldonado dominated at AA Harrisburg, posting a 1.13 ERA to go with his 3-0 record. Promoted to AAA Rochester, he continued to impress, sporting a 3-1 mark and a 3.31 ERA. Across the two minor league levels, Baldonado struck out 47 batters in 40.2 innings. 
 
In his 12-year professional career, Baldonado has amassed a 25-29 record with a 3.34 ERA almost exclusively out of the bullpen (26 starts in 380 career games). He has also recorded 48 career saves, including a career high of 15 in 2020 split between the Mexican Pacific Winter League and the Caribbean Series.  
 
Baldonado will try to provide stability to a Washington bullpen that has been a revolving door of relievers this season, most notably top free agent acquisitions Will Harris (60-Day DL) and Brad Hand (21 saves before being traded to Toronto on July 29). Washington currently ranks 11th in the National League in ERA at 4.67. 
 
Baldonado joins fellow relievers David Robertson (Tampa Bay Rays) and Jake Petricka (Los Angeles Angels) as the other Rockers alumni to reach the Major Leagues in 2021. Both Petricka and Robertson appeared in a Rockers uniform during the current 2021 season. 


Search Archive »




Browse by Year »

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Browse by Month »

April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015