CARY, N.C. – Major League Baseball’s Opening Day was covered in red, white, and blue on Thursday, as USA Baseball placed 161 alumni on big-league rosters. It’s the most alumni on Opening Day rosters since the organization had 165 in 2020.
The St. Louis Cardinals lead all Clubs with 13 players on their roster, followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates with 10. The Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, and Philadelphia Phillies all boast eight players on their rosters, while seven players are with the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees.
Overall, 25 of the 30 big-league teams have at least four Team USA alumni on their roster. Seventy former Collegiate National Team players are on big-league rosters, while 55 Pro Team alums are suiting up in the big leagues to kick off the season, including 25 members of the 2023 World Baseball Classic squad. Forty-three 18U alumni, 15 past 15U National Team members, and nine players from the former 16U National Team program made it on Opening Day rosters. In addition, six players from the 14U program and two past 12U players are on MLB Clubs.
A trio of pitchers got the nod for the Opening Day start on Wednesday. Zach Eflin took the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays, Kyle Freeland started for the Colorado Rockies, and the St. Louis Cardinals handed the ball to Miles Mikolas.
Additionally, 2022 Collegiate National Team alumni Wyatt Langford made his big-league debut for the Texas Rangers on Opening Day.
USA Baseball is also well-represented in the dugout as seven Team USA alumni are managers in 2024. Aaron Boone (NYY), Pedro Grifol (CWS), AJ Hinch (DET), and Mark Kotsay (OAK) represent the organization in the American League, while Dave Roberts (LAD), Skip Schumaker (MIA), and Scott Servais (SEA) manage National League Clubs.
In addition, five previous winners of USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award appear on big-league rosters to kick off 2024: Bryce Harper (2010), Kris Bryant (2013), Andrew Benintendi (2015), Andrew Vaughn (2018), and Adley Rutschman (2019).
The complete list of USA Baseball alumni on 2024 Opening Day rosters is as follows:
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Corbin Carroll – 2018 18U
Merrill Kelly – 2023 WBC
Jake McCarthy – 2017 Collegiate
Scott McGough – 2010 Collegiate, 2021 OLY
Alek Thomas – 2017 18U
ATLANTA BRAVES
Travis d'Arnaud – 2011 Pro
Jarred Kelenic – 2016 & 2017 18U
A.J. Minter – 2014 Collegiate
Matt Olson – 2010 16U
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Colton Cowser – 2019 Collegiate
Cole Irvin – 2011 18U
Craig Kimbrel – 2013 WBC
James McCann – 2011 Pro
Cedric Mullins – 2023 WBC
Adley Rutschman – 2018 Collegiate
Dillon Tate – 2014 Collegiate
BOSTON RED SOX
Triston Casas – 2015 15U, 2016 & 2017 18U, 2021 OLY
Bobby Dalbec – 2015 Collegiate, 2019 Pro
Jarren Duran – 2021 Pro
Tanner Houck – 2015 & 2016 Collegiate, 2019 Pro
Reese McGuire – 2012 18U
CHICAGO CUBS
Nico Hoerner – 2011 14U, 2012 15U
Nick Madrigal – 2011 14U, 2012 15U, 2014 18U, 2017 Collegiate
Drew Smyly – 2011 Pro, 2017 WBC
Dansby Swanson – 2014 Collegiate
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Erick Fedde – 2013 Collegiate
Dominic Fletcher – 2018 Collegiate
Braden Shewmake – 2017 & 2018 Collegiate
Andrew Vaughn – 2013 15U, 2017 & 2018 Collegiate
CINCINNATI REDS
Andrew Abbott – 2019 Collegiate
Will Benson – 2015 18U
Hunter Greene – 2014 15U
Nick Martinez – 2021 OLY, 2023 WBC
Lucas Sims – 2010 16U
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Hunter Gaddis – 2017 Collegiate
Logan Allen – 2016 18U
Tyler Beede – 2013 Collegiate
COLORADO ROCKIES
Kris Bryant – 2012 Collegiate
Kyle Freeland – 2023 WBC
Peter Lambert – 2014 18U
DETROIT TIGERS
Alex Faedo – 2016 Collegiate
Jack Flaherty – 2013 18U
Riley Greene – 2018 18U
Tyler Holton – 2017 Collegiate
Carson Kelly – 2010 16U, 2011 18U
Alex Lange – 2016 Collegiate
Casey Mize – 2017 Collegiate
Spencer Torkelson – 2018 & 2019 Collegiate
HOUSTON ASTROS
Alex Bregman – 2010 16U, 2011 18U, 2013 & 2014 Collegiate, 2017 WBC
Josh Hader – 2015 Pro
Ryan Pressly – 2023 WBC
Kyle Tucker – 2012 15U, 2023 WBC
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Adam Frazier – 2012 Collegiate, 2015 Pro
Garrett Hampson – 2015 Collegiate
Nick Loftin – 2019 Collegiate
MJ Melendez – 2016 18U
Brady Singer – 2023 WBC
Michael Wacha – 2011 Collegiate
Bobby Witt Jr. – 2018 18U, 2023 WBC
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Jo Adell – 2019 Pro
Tyler Anderson – 2010 Collegiate
Reid Detmers – 2019 Collegiate
Mickey Moniak – 2013 15U, 2015 18U
Anthony Rendon – 2010 Collegiate
Matt Thaiss – 2015 Collegiate
Mike Trout – 2010 Pro, 2023 WBC
Taylor Ward – 2014 Collegiate
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Mookie Betts – 2023 WBC
Freddie Freeman – 2005 16U, 2006 18U
Joe Kelly – 2007 Collegiate
Will Smith – 2023 WBC
MIAMI MARLINS
Tim Anderson – 2023 WBC
Jake Burger – 2016 Collegiate
Max Meyer – 2018 & 2019 Collegiate
A.J. Puk – 2015 Collegiate
Ryan Weathers – 2017 18U
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Hoby Milner – 2011 Collegiate
Brice Turang – 2014 15U, 2016 & 2017 18U
Joe Ross – 2007 14U
Christian Yelich – 2017 WBC
MINNESOTA TWINS
Kyle Farmer – 2012 Collegiate
Royce Lewis – 2014 15U, 2016 18U
Bailey Ober – 2014 Collegiate
Joe Ryan – 2021 OLY
Cole Sands – 2012 15U, 2016 Collegiate
Matt Wallner – 2018 Collegiate
NEW YORK METS
Pete Alonso – 2023 WBC
Francisco Lindor – 2009 16U & 2010 18U
Jeff McNeil – 2023 WBC
Adam Ottavino – 2023 WBC
D.J. Stewart – 2014 Collegiate
NEW YORK YANKEES
Trent Grisham – 2014 18U
Carlos Rodon – 2012 & 2013 Collegiate
Giancarlo Stanton – 2013, 2017 WBC
Marcus Stroman – 2011 Collegiate, 2017 WBC
Jose Trevino – 2012 Collegiate
Alex Verdugo – 2010 14U
Anthony Volpe – 2013 12U, 2016 15U, 2017 & 2018 18U
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Nick Allen – 2013 15U, 2016 18U, 2021 OLY
Michael Kelly – 2008 16U
Shea Langeliers – 2018 Collegiate
Brent Rooker – 2019 Pro
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Alec Bohm – 2019 Pro
Nick Castellanos – 2009 18U
Bryce Harper – 2008 16U & 2009 18U
Luis Ortiz – 2013 18U
J.T. Realmuto – 2023 WBC
Kyle Schwarber – 2013 Collegiate & 2023 WBC
Bryson Stott – 2018 Collegiate
Trea Turner – 2012 & 2013 Collegiate, 2023 WBC
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
David Bednar – 2023 WBC
Bailey Falter – 2011 14U, 2012 15U
Marco Gonzales – 2012 Collegiate
KeBryan Hayes – 2014 18U
Jared Jones – 2016 15U
Andrew McCutchen – 2004 18U, 2017 WBC
Luis Ortiz – 2013 18U
Bryan Reynolds – 2014 Collegiate
Ryder Ryan – 2021 OLY
Alika Williams – 2019 Collegiate
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Jake Cronenworth – 2019 Pro
Kyle Higashioka – 2023 WBC
Manny Machado – 2009 18U
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Patrick Bailey – 2016 18U, 2018 & 2019 Collegiate
Matt Chapman – 2013 Collegiate
Michael Conforto – 2012 & 2013 Collegiate
Kyle Harrison – 2019 18U
Tom Murphy – 2011 Collegiate & 2015 Pro
SEATTLE MARINERS
JP Crawford – 2009 14U
Ryne Stanek – 2011 & 2012 Collegiate
- LOUIS CARDINALS
Nolan Arenado – 2017 & 2023 WBC
Alec Burleson – 2019 Collegiate
Brandon Crawford – 2006 Collegiate, 2017 WBC
Kyle Gibson – 2008 Collegiate
Paul Goldschmidt – 2017 & 2023 WBC
Nolan Gorman – 2017 18U
Matthew Liberatore – 2017 18U
Lance Lynn – 2007 Collegiate, 2023 WBC
Miles Mikolas – 2023 WBC
Andre Pallante – 2018 Collegiate
Michael Siani – 2016 & 2017 18U
Zack Thompson – 2018 Collegiate
Masyn Winn – 2014 12U, 2017 15U
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Jason Adam – 2023 WBC
Zach Eflin – 2015 Pro
TEXAS RANGERS
Cody Bradford – 2018 Collegiate
Travis Jankowski – 2015 Pro
Josh Jung – 2018 Collegiate
Wyatt Langford – 2022 Collegiate
David Robertson – 2017 WBC, 2021 Pro
Corey Seager – 2010 16U
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Cavan Biggio – 2012 18U
Kevin Gausman – 2009 18U, 2011 Collegiate
George Springer – 2010 Collegiate
Daulton Varsho – 2019 Pro
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
CJ Abrams – 2018 18U
Matt Barnes – 2010 Collegiate
Joey Gallo – 2011 18U
Lane Thomas – 2013 18U
Trevor Williams – 2012 Collegiate
Jesse Winker – 2011 18U
