#StateToTheShow: Opening Day 2023
March 30, 2023 | Baseball
Opening Day for Major League Baseball is upon us and there are several Mississippi State players that are beginning their seasons in the Big Leagues on Thursday.
The Diamond Dawgs have seven players on Opening Day rosters as well as three members of MLB coaching staffs. Four-time Manager of the Year Buck Showalter begins his second season as skipper of the New York Mets. Travis Chapman also starts his second year as first base coach for the New York Yankees while Chris Young is in his fourth season serving as the Chicago Cubs' bullpen coach.
Three MSU players will begin the 2023 campaign with new Major League clubs. Former All-Star Adam Frazier signed a one-year, $8 million free agent deal with the Baltimore Orioles during the offseason after advancing to the playoffs last season with Seattle.
For the fifth consecutive year, Hunter Renfroe will open the year with a new franchise after being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels during the offseason. Renfroe has clubbed 157 career homers during his seven seasons in the Big Leagues and will make $11.9 million this year with the Angels.
The Oakland Athletics picked up Brent Rooker back in November and the former Triple Crown winner with the Bulldogs earned a spot on the A's 26-man roster after batting .308 during spring training.
Nathaniel Lowe is coming off his best season at the Big-League level. The Texas Rangers' first baseman was named a Silver Slugger last season after hitting a career-best .302 with 26 doubles, three triples, 27 homers and 76 RBIs.
Two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff is back with Milwaukee in the top part of the Brewers' pitching rotation while Kendall Graveman and Chris Stratton are set to come out of the bullpen for the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals respectively.
Graveman will be part of the closer by committee plan for the White Sox until Liam Hendricks returns from the disabled list. Stratton, a former first-round pick, was traded to the Cardinals last August and posted a 5-0 record with a 2.78 ERA with them to close out the year.
Additionally, the Diamond Dawgs also have five more pitchers on MLB 40-man rosters. However, J.P. France (Astros), Dakota Hudson (Cardinals), Konnor Pilkington (Guardians), Ethan Small (Brewers) and Colby White (Rays) will start their seasons in Triple-A.
There was also some offseason movement for several State players in the Minor League system. Gavin Collins is now a member of the Tampa Bay Rays farm system and will begin the year in Triple-A with the Durham Bulls. Former Big Leaguer Jonathan Holder is now with the Angels' Triple-A affiliate the Salt Lake City Bees and Zac Houston joined the New York Yankees organization and will start with the season in Double-A with the Somerset Patriots.
The SEC's all-time hit king, Jake Mangum, also made a move during the offseason, joining the Miami Marlins and will begin the year with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Stay tuned to HailState.com for weekly updates on how all of your favorite Diamond Dawgs are performing in professional baseball.
Bulldogs in MLB
Travis Chapman (first base coach) - Yankees
Adam Frazier - Orioles
Kendall Graveman - White Sox
Nathaniel Lowe - Rangers
Hunter Renfroe - Angels
Brent Rooker - Athletics
Buck Showalter (manager) - Mets
Chris Stratton - Cardinals
Brandon Woodruff - Brewers
Chris Young (bullpen coach) - Cubs
Bulldogs in MiLB
Tanner Allen - Marlins
Will Bednar - Giants
Eric Cerantola - Royals
Gavin Collins - Rays
Brad Cumbest - Rockies
Justin Foscue - Rangers
J.P. France - Astros
Jackson Fristoe - Yankees
J.T. Ginn - Athletics
Cole Gordon - Mets
Houston Harding - Angels
Jonathan Holder - Angels
Zac Houston - Yankees
Dakota Hudson - Cardinals
Kamren James - Rays
Keegan James - Rockies
Preston Johnson - Orioles
Rowdey Jordan - Mets
Christian MacLeod - Twins
Jake Mangum - Marlins
Zach Neff - Twins
Konnor Pilkington - Guardians
Peyton Plumlee - Astros
Landon Sims - Diamondbacks
Ethan Small - Brewers
Hunter Stovall - Rockies
Logan Tanner - Reds
Andrew Walling - Phillies
Jordan Westburg - Orioles
Colby White - Rays
RJ Yeager - Cardinals
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