Four Diamond Dawgs On 2015 Opening Day Rosters
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Four former Mississippi State baseball players are included on opening day rosters for the 2015 Major League Baseball season. In addition, three former Diamond Dawgs are currently serving in managerial or coaching roles.
Philadelphia closer Jonathan Papelbon (2001-03) enters his 11th season in the big leagues and fourth with the Phillies. The right hander is currently 16th in MLB history and second among active players with 325 career saves, including 39 last year. Papelbon is a five-time all-star (2006-09, 2012) and a 2007 World Series champion.
Also pitching in “The Show” is Oakland Athletics righty Kendall Graveman (2010-13), who was traded to the Bay Area from Toronto this past November in exchange for all-star third baseman Josh Donaldson. After recording the lowest ERA in all of spring training, Graveman made the 2015 starting rotation for the A’s. The Alexander City, Ala., native will make his first career MLB start Thursday against Texas at 2:35 p.m. CT. Graveman made five appearances for the Blue Jays last season, recording a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings of relief.
On Thursday, Graveman will most likely pitch against Mitch Moreland (2005-07), who is listed as the Rangers’ starting designated hitter to begin the season. The Amory, Miss., native is entering his sixth season in the big leagues (all with Texas), and led the Rangers in home runs in spring training.
Tyler Moore (2008), the older brother of current MSU sophomore slugger Reid Humphreys, is the starting left fielder for the Washington Nationals. The Brandon, Miss., native is entering his fourth season in the highest level of professional baseball (all with Washington).
Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (1977) returns as the leader of the defending American League East champions. The 2014 AL Manager of the Year led the O’s to a 96-66 record a year ago and their first division title since 1997. A three-time AL Manager of the Year, Showalter is entering his sixth season as Baltimore’s skipper, owning a 377-328 (.535) record. In 16 seasons at the helm of a big league team, Showalter is third among active managers and 36th all-time in MLB history with 1,259 career wins. Of the 35 managers in front of him, 24 have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Other Diamond Dawgs serving in coaching capacities include St. Louis Cardinals first 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 defending 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 MSU baseball program, follow the team on Twitter, like the squad on Facebook and join the Diamond Dawgs on Instagram.