Georgia on Chaney Rogers’ mind
Former Gordon Lee Trojan Tucker Bradley is currently playing baseball the University of Georgia and starting next season, an old friend and teammate will be joining him in Athens.
Gordon Lee senior Chaney Rogers, who committed to play for the Bulldogs in June of last year, finally signed his letter of intent and celebrated with a reception at Gordon Lee this past Wednesday.
“It feels a little weird,” Rogers said. “It feels like I just got into high school, but I’m excited. I think we’re going to have a good team when I get there. There’s a lot of freshmen playing there right now so it should be fun. I love all the coaches and I love Georgia.
“Plus I get to play with Tucker some more. Ever since we were little, we’ve played ball together. It’s going to be neat to have two kids from the same area playing together at Georgia, and really three kids when you count (Heritage junior) Cole Wilcox (a Bulldogs verbal commitment).”
Rogers battled through injuries in his junior season with the Trojans, but still managed to hit seven doubles, one home run and drive in 12 runs. He was finally able to take the mound in the final game of the year, a playoff matchup against Holy Innocents’, a game in which he pitched well in a loss.
Now finally 100 percent healthy, he said he is looking forward to his senior season at Gordon Lee.
“Last year wasn’t a lot of fun having to watch, but I tried to use it as a learning opportunity,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting this season started and, hopefully, staying injury-free.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound left-hander said Georgia is planning to use him as mostly as a pitcher. He’s been clocked at 91 miles per
hour by Perfect Game.
“I’ll have to get used to school and practice every single day (in college),” he said. “Every day (in college baseball) is a long day and a grind, but I’m looking forward to seeing who is all on the team and what I need to do to help them. I’ll do whatever they need me to do.”
Rogers had interest from several other Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference squads, including offers from traditional ACC powers Florida State and Georgia Tech before choosing Georgia.
A past National Travel Ball U13 Player of the Year, Rogers hit .321 as a freshman with 13 RBIs. He also won three games on the mound and saved three more, collecting 61 strikeouts in 43-plus
innings to help the Trojans to the Class 1A Public School state finals.
The following season, he batted .373 with two homers and 15 RBIs, while going 6-3 on the hill with 72 strikeouts against 15 walks. He finished with a 1.20 ERA to help his team reach the Class 2A quarterfinals.
“It’s fun as a coach to have those type of quality of players,” said Gordon Lee head coach Mike Dunfee, who also
saw fellow senior Ethan Clark sign with Division I Austin Peay last week. “It’s a joy to coach that kind of talent.
“Chaney is evenkeel kind of guy, but he’s played in some humongous games against stiff competition since he was seven or eight years old. He’s not a real rah-rah guy, but inside he’s a true competitor. He just doesn’t really let his emotions show. He doesn’t get too high or too low when he’s out
there. Now he just has to stick to it because the work is just beginning.”
Rogers, who sports a 3.5 GPA, said he is undecided on a major. However, it still remains to be seen exactly whose uniform he’ll wear after he hangs up his Gordon Lee jersey for good.
In June 2015, he was named as one of the Top 100 high school prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. However, Rogers said he’ll cross that
bridge when and if he comes to it.
“I’ve thought about (getting drafted), but you never know until that day,” he said. “You never know unless you hear your name called and you see what spot you went in and who picked you. Then you can decide whether or not that’s the best thing for you. I’m not stressing about it because I want to go to Georgia, but if I (get drafted), I’ll just have to see what’s best for me.”