07/19/2026
Some first pitches mean a little more. ⚾
For 17-year-old Jordan Sherwood, stepping onto the field with the High Point Rockers was more than a game-day moment. It was a chance to reconnect with a sport he has always loved after a year of unexpected health challenges kept him from the game.
Jordan, a rising senior from Lexington, North Carolina, grew up loving baseball and golf. But after months of painful symptoms, hospital stays and ongoing treatment for ulcerative colitis, he lost about 40 pounds, missed his entire junior season and had to step back from the sports that brought him joy.
Jordan got to experience the ballpark from places most fans never see. He watched batting practice from the dugout, toured the locker room, met with coaches, spent one-on-one time with the team, and received a custom jersey before taking the mound for the ceremonial first pitch.
Later, Jordan was recognized in game as fans heard more about his story, turning a night at the ballpark into a moment centered on his strength, the game he loves, and the entire team cheering him on.
Through care from his pediatric specialists and support from his family, Jordan is looking ahead to senior year, reconnecting with baseball and exploring an interest in health care inspired by the teams who have cared for him. Through our partnership with the High Point Rockers, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist was proud to help create an experience Jordan and his family could carry with them long after the final inning.
