On a sunny yet chilly Saturday in December, with a crisp wind making its presence known, Terry Sanford High School’s head baseball coach Sam Guy prepared the finishing touches for a momentous jersey retirement ceremony.
Terry Sanford proudly boasts two alumni currently playing Major League Baseball — DJ Herz and Austin Warren. Both pitchers hail from Fayetteville and, along with their families, attended the ceremony held in their honor. Herz is a starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals, and Warren pitches for the San Francisco Giants. Coach Guy, who played a pivotal role in their journeys, chose to commemorate their achievements by retiring their numbers — making them the first baseball jerseys retired in the school’s 84-year history.
Before the ceremony began, Guy checked in with the school’s booster club, who had burgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill. He ensured the tarp covering two large, metal jersey displays mounted atop the club’s batting cages was secure against the persistent wind, which threatened to unveil the tribute prematurely.
The event, though public, remained an intimate affair, attended mainly by current and former Terry Sanford baseball players. The informal gathering felt more like a backyard barbecue than a formal ceremony — a reflection of Herz and Warren’s humble and unassuming personalities. “It’s what they wanted,” Guy said.
When asked what it meant to have coached two MLB players, Guy expressed his amazement.
“It’s crazy. I don’t know how many high schools in North Carolina have two active major leaguers — maybe none. Getting the calls from them when they were making their debuts was just awesome,” he said.
Both Herz and Warren lit up when recounting their big-league call-ups.
Herz’s journey to the Nationals
Washington Nationals pitcher DJ Herz recalled the moment vividly.
“It was a great feeling,” he said. “I called my parents first, then my girlfriend and a few close friends. I was two hours away from where we were playing Triple-A when I got the call and was told I was going to the bigs. They said I’d be pitching the next day, but I didn’t even have my cleats — they were on the bus! I asked, ‘How am I getting to D.C.? What about my car?’ I woke up the next morning and flew to D.C.”
Drafted by the Chicago Cubs straight out of Terry Sanford in 2019, Herz was traded to the Nationals in July 2023 as part of a deal involving third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Herz made his MLB debut in June 2024, starting against the Mets. Though his debut ended in a loss, he secured his first win in his third start and made history by becoming just the second pitcher since 1901 to record 13 strikeouts without a walk in each of his first three starts.
Warren’s path to the Giants
San Francisco Giants pitcher Austin Warren shared a similarly emotional memory of his MLB debut.
“It was awesome. I almost burst into tears,” Warren said. “I called my parents, even though it was 2 a.m. their time. I had to wake them up to book plane tickets for the game later that day.”
Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, Warren debuted in July 2021, finishing his rookie season with a stellar 1.77 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 16 relief appearances. His jersey was retired in January 2022, but Warren attended Saturday’s ceremony to support Herz and witness the unveiling of his own jersey.
When the time came, Guy cut the strings holding the tarps, revealing two oversized 5-by-8-foot metal jerseys mounted on the batting cage roof. Each display bore the player’s name, number, and graduation year, standing as a testament to their achievements.
A legacy of excellence
Guy, who has been coaching for 25 years (with 15 at Terry Sanford), reflected on what set Herz and Warren apart.
“The difference between high school and college players and college players to pros is intent — being intentional in the classroom, with every rep, and in everything they do on and off the field. Talent is essential, but reaching your full potential requires intentionality,” he said.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity for fans to connect with their local heroes. One such longtime fan, Ray Street, brought a collection of Warren’s trading cards to share.
“I’ve followed Warren since middle school. Today, I got my game-worn jersey signed and even traded cards with him,” Street said.
The current Terry Sanford team has benefited greatly from their professional alumni. Senior pitcher Josh Hart, a Division 1 commit to East Carolina University, credits Herz and Warren for their mentorship.
“DJ has helped me with my mechanics during the offseason,” Hart said. Austin also helped Hart when he was in town last year. “It’s been great having both DJ and Austin around. They’ve been a big influence.”
Both Herz and Warren expressed their desire to inspire the next generation of players. Warren encouraged perseverance.
“Never give up,” he said. “I wasn’t the biggest in high school.and didn’t feel like I was getting noticed, but I was. You might not think you’re getting the looks, but you are. If you have the heart and dedication, just never give up and push yourself to be the best player you can possibly be.”
Herz emphasized hard work. “Work your butt off when no one’s watching,” he advised. “Good things happen when you put in the effort behind the scenes. I give my dad a lot of credit because he pushed me when I didn’t feel like it.”
The ceremony concluded with smiles all around as Guy declared, “No one in the history of Terry Sanford baseball will ever wear the numbers 1 and 7 again.”
Warren summed up the honor: “To come back to Terry Sanford and see my jersey on that roof for the rest of my life is going to be awesome.”
Great article!