#STATEtoTheShow Update: 2019 Opening Day
March 27, 2019 | Baseball
Six former Diamond Dawgs on opening day rosters, with a seventh starting the year on the disabled list
by: Austin Coats, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – A pair of former Diamond Dawgs have earned starting pitching jobs heading into the 2019 Major League Baseball season.
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Milwaukee Brewer Brandon Woodruff and St. Louis Cardinal Dakota Hudson were named to their respective teams' starting rotations in the past week. Both Woodruff and Hudson pitched in relief roles for large portions of the 2018 season and are the two most recent former Bulldogs to make the leap from State to the Show.
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In 2018, Woodruff pitched in 27 games, 12 of them starts, to earn a 5-3 record, a save and a 4.22 earned run average. Woodruff really impressed in the MLB Postseason, where he pitched 12 1/3 innings and struck out 20 batters for a 2.19 ERA. Woodruff also hit a game-tying home run against Clayton Kershaw in the National League Division Series.
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Hudson made his MLB debut in 2018 as the 59th former Bulldog to do so. In 26 relief appearances, Hudson tallied a 4-1 record and 2.63 ERA. In Spring Training, Hudson dominated with a 1.25 ERA on his way to earning the final starting spot in the Cardinals rotation.
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Woodruff and Hudson are listed as the probable pitchers for the matchup between St. Louis and Milwaukee on Saturday, March 30, at 6:10 p.m. CT.
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Woodruff and Hudson will be two of seven former Mississippi State baseball student-athletes on MLB 40-man rosters when the MLB season kicks off on Opening Day Thursday (March 28).
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Another starting pitcher, Chris Stratton will make a change in 2019. After spending his entire professional career to-date with the San Francisco Giants organization, the three-year MLB veteran was traded to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday March 25). Stratton is expected to make the Angels' rotation and is listed as the probable starter for the Angels' Monday, April 1 matchup against the Seattle Mariners at 9:10 p.m. CT.
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Adam Frazier also earned a starting job, though as the Pittsburgh Pirates' second baseman. After finishing the 2018 campaign on a tear, Frazier continued his hot hitting into 2019 Spring Training, where he batted .350. Frazier is likely to be Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter come Thursday.
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In a different way, Mitch Moreland will also look to carry momentum. Moreland won his first World Series title in 2019 with the Boston Red Sox after being named an MLB All-Star for the first time in his career. Having the longest MLB career of any active Diamond Dawg, Moreland will begin his tenth season in the big leagues, and third with Boston.
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Relief pitcher Jonathan Holder had a great Spring Training, posting a 0.79 ERA in 10 appearances. Holder is looking forward to once again contributing to one of the best bullpens in MLB, belonging to the New York Yankees.
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Hunter Renfroe will begin his third full season in Major League Baseball after knocking in a career-high 68 RBIs in 117 games in 2018. The San Diego Padres outfielder posted 26 home runs in each of the last two seasons.
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The Chicago Cubs named Kendall Graveman to their 40-man roster Tuesday after he missed most of the 2018 campaign due to injury. He will start the season on the disabled list.
STARKVILLE – A pair of former Diamond Dawgs have earned starting pitching jobs heading into the 2019 Major League Baseball season.
Â
Milwaukee Brewer Brandon Woodruff and St. Louis Cardinal Dakota Hudson were named to their respective teams' starting rotations in the past week. Both Woodruff and Hudson pitched in relief roles for large portions of the 2018 season and are the two most recent former Bulldogs to make the leap from State to the Show.
Â
In 2018, Woodruff pitched in 27 games, 12 of them starts, to earn a 5-3 record, a save and a 4.22 earned run average. Woodruff really impressed in the MLB Postseason, where he pitched 12 1/3 innings and struck out 20 batters for a 2.19 ERA. Woodruff also hit a game-tying home run against Clayton Kershaw in the National League Division Series.
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Hudson made his MLB debut in 2018 as the 59th former Bulldog to do so. In 26 relief appearances, Hudson tallied a 4-1 record and 2.63 ERA. In Spring Training, Hudson dominated with a 1.25 ERA on his way to earning the final starting spot in the Cardinals rotation.
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Woodruff and Hudson are listed as the probable pitchers for the matchup between St. Louis and Milwaukee on Saturday, March 30, at 6:10 p.m. CT.
Â
Woodruff and Hudson will be two of seven former Mississippi State baseball student-athletes on MLB 40-man rosters when the MLB season kicks off on Opening Day Thursday (March 28).
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Another starting pitcher, Chris Stratton will make a change in 2019. After spending his entire professional career to-date with the San Francisco Giants organization, the three-year MLB veteran was traded to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday March 25). Stratton is expected to make the Angels' rotation and is listed as the probable starter for the Angels' Monday, April 1 matchup against the Seattle Mariners at 9:10 p.m. CT.
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Adam Frazier also earned a starting job, though as the Pittsburgh Pirates' second baseman. After finishing the 2018 campaign on a tear, Frazier continued his hot hitting into 2019 Spring Training, where he batted .350. Frazier is likely to be Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter come Thursday.
Â
In a different way, Mitch Moreland will also look to carry momentum. Moreland won his first World Series title in 2019 with the Boston Red Sox after being named an MLB All-Star for the first time in his career. Having the longest MLB career of any active Diamond Dawg, Moreland will begin his tenth season in the big leagues, and third with Boston.
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Relief pitcher Jonathan Holder had a great Spring Training, posting a 0.79 ERA in 10 appearances. Holder is looking forward to once again contributing to one of the best bullpens in MLB, belonging to the New York Yankees.
Â
Hunter Renfroe will begin his third full season in Major League Baseball after knocking in a career-high 68 RBIs in 117 games in 2018. The San Diego Padres outfielder posted 26 home runs in each of the last two seasons.
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The Chicago Cubs named Kendall Graveman to their 40-man roster Tuesday after he missed most of the 2018 campaign due to injury. He will start the season on the disabled list.
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