Three Diamond Dawgs Highlight 2016 MLB Opening Day Rosters
April 04, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Three former Mississippi State baseball players are included on 2016 Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters, along with three former Diamond Dawgs serving in managerial or coaching roles.
Kendall Graveman (Oakland Athletics), Mitch Moreland (Texas Rangers) and Jonathan Papelbon (Washington Nationals) are all on active rosters for the start of the 2016 campaign.
A five-time all-star (2006-09, 2012) and a 2007 World Series champion, Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon (2001-03) enters his 12th season in the majors. After turning in 24 saves last season, the righty is currently 11th in the MLB in career saves with 349. That number places him second amongst active career saves leaders.
Kendall Graveman (2010-13) is coming into his third season in “The Show” and his second season with the Athletics. Graveman is coming off a 2015 season that saw him earn six wins, throwing 115.2 innings of work with 10 quality starts. His six wins were tied for third most on the A's staff. The Alexander City, Ala., native is scheduled to make his first start of the 2016 season against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, April 4 at 2:35 p.m. CT.
Entering his seventh season in the MLB is Amory, Miss., native Mitch Moreland (2005-07), who is listed as the Rangers starting first baseman. Moreland tied for the Rangers top home run hitter in 2015 with 23 dingers. His 85 RBIs stood second on the Texas squad last season. For 2016 spring training, Moreland has turned in three home runs and 10 RBIs.
Jacob Lindgren (New York Yankees), Chris Stratton (San Francisco Giants) and Tyler Moore (Atlanta Braves) round out the Bulldog players, each appearing on their respective team's 40-man roster.
Lindgren (2012-14) made his MLB debut on May 25, 2015 for the Yankees, tossing two strikeouts in two innings of work. Moore (2008), who was recently traded to the Atlanta Braves, came into the league in 2008 and made his Major League debut in 2012 for the Nationals. In four years with the Nats, Moore hit 24 home runs, 91 RBIs and 32 doubles. Stratton (2010-12), who has been in the San Francisco organization all five years of his career, picked up a win in two starts for the Giants this spring.
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (1977) returns for his seventh season at the helm of the 2014 AL East Champions. The 2014 AL Manager of the Year led the O's to a 96-66 record in 2014 and their first division title since 1997. A three-time AL Manager of the Year, Showalter owns a 458-409 (.528) record. In 18 seasons at the helm of a big league team, Showalter is fourth among active managers and 31st all-time in MLB history with 1,340 career wins.
Other Diamond Dawgs serving in coaching capacities include St. Louis Cardinals third base coach Chris Maloney (1982-83) and Chicago White Sox bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen (1984-85).
Off the field, Bulldog legend Will Clark (1983-85) is a special assistant and community ambassador for the eight-time World Series champion San Francisco Giants, while Jeff Brantley (1982-85) is a member of the Cincinnati Reds radio and television broadcast teams.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for “HailStateBB.” You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”
