Evan Sleight: A Return Home
NA Brockton Rox

Evan Sleight: A Return Home

Published on August 11, 2026 under National Association (NA)
Brockton Rox News Release


Brockton Rox right fielder and catcher Evan Sleight is no stranger to playing baseball at the professional level.

Seven years after first walking through the tunnels of Campanelli Stadium as a member of the Brockton Rox Futures League, Evan Sleight is back where it all began.

The former Virginia commit, Rutgers legend, captain at Alabama, champion with the Bourne Braves, and the utility veteran has made an impact at every stop in his baseball journey. Born and raised in Framingham, Massachusetts, his career comes full circle as he returns to his home state as a professional athlete.

"Being able to play back in Brockton has been a surreal experience," Sleight said. "It was like deja vu walking through these doors again. It feels like home".

Evan's return to Brockton may feel familiar but much has changed from his time in the Futures League.

Throughout his collegiate and professional journey Evan has been manning the outfield. That is until recently where he decided it was time to put the catchers mitt on.

Playing catcher was definitely a challenge for Evan, but not a challenge he hadn't faced before. During his early playing years, Evan was primarily a catcher. However, when he got to high school at Belmont Hill School, his team's center fielder got hurt and he was moved to center field.

Although Evan is not the primary catcher for the Rox, he has adapted to returning to that role.

"It's fun to do something new in the sport I've played for so long."

In his time at Belmont Hill School, Evan also played goalie for the hockey team and quarterback for the football team. So his comfort running the field as the catcher is not surprising at all.

"That side of the game, paying attention to every pitch, calling the game was more up my alley".

Once Evan took on that new center fielder position, it showed that he was meant for the outfield.

"Getting behind the plate is almost more of a quarterback action because it's a little more from the ear, so I have actually adapted that into my outfield throw and it's helped me gain velocity because it's a cleaner motion".

Watching him play it is clearly evident that he has one of the strongest arms in all of baseball.

Evan's collegiate career was unlike others; he was an early commit to the University of Virginia when he committed in 2016. Like many kids who plan their future young, that decision became a defining trait.

"That kinda became my identity."

However, in his first season in 2020, he did not see game action due to injury. Following the season, Evan was forced to transfer.

"When COVID hit I was hurt, and I got asked to transfer. It was a really challenging moment going through COVID; I didn't know what was going to happen next."

That was until Steve Owens, the head coach at Rutgers, took a chance on Sleight. He got another chance to prove himself worthy. It did not take long for people to realize Evan was going to be a pro baseball player someday.

Sleight's first career collegiate home run was what really sealed that deal. In just his second career game with Rutgers, Evan Sleight's first career hit would be a grand slam in the first inning at U.S. Bank Stadium versus the University of Minnesota.

"It was a crazy moment," Sleight said. "I was filled with emotions. It was just a bunch of uncertainty being answered in that moment. It was really cool."

Evan went on to play for Rutgers for three seasons, where he started in left field for the Scarlet Knights. During his time with Rutgers, Sleight played in the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the best summer leagues in the country, with the Bourne Braves. In 2022, Evan helped lead the team to a championship.

Following his season with the Thunderbirds of the MLB Draft League, Evan was committed to play his senior season of college baseball in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Crimson Tide.

Playing in what is widely considered to be the best conference in college sports, the Southeastern Conference, Evan was terrific once again playing in 47 games as the team's starting right fielder.

After his senior season in Tuscaloosa was over, Evan inked a contract with the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League. Over the next two summers Evan played 37 games with the Miners and 76 games with the Missoula Paddleheads in Montana of the Pioneer League.

Fast forward to February 27th, 2026, Evan Sleight would put pen to paper and officially sign his return to Brockton and rejoin the Rox this time as a professional athlete.

Former Toronto Blue Jay Chris Colabello, Evan's hitting coach and someone he considers a brother to him, is how he was able to put pen to paper and rejoin the Rox organization. Chris played on the same team with Rox third year manager Jerod "Doc" Edmondson in 2007 with the Nashua Pride of the Canadian-American Association.

"I knew Doc was a fantastic player, and I heard a lot of great things about him as a manager so I reached out and asked if they needed any help, and I was lucky enough to come compete for a spot and it's been awesome," Sleight said. "I could not be more grateful to be here."

Returning to Brockton has also allowed Evan to reconnect with old teammates from the Futures League, including Tommy Kretzler who he played with in 2019 and Michael Quigley who he played with in 2020.

Rox manager Jerod Edmondson gave high praise to Sleight for his approach to the game.

"He's probably one of the smartest baseball players that I have had the opportunity to coach at any level," Edmonson said. "He sees everything very well, and when you're smart, have ability, and stick to your plan, you'll be successful."

And through it all Sleight has come to appreciate all the experiences that have shaped his career. Now, being back where it all started, Sleight isn't taking any part of the journey for granted.

Evan said, "Being able to just enjoy this kids' game with my teammates and my coaches, not a lot of people get to do this and I am so grateful to be out here."

His return to Brockton and return to his home state is what makes this so meaningful to him.

"Baseball is a beautiful game," Sleight said. "The poetry in it is always something that's stood out to me. I just love it."

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