CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball announced today that 156 alumni kicked off the 2023 Major League Baseball season on Opening Day rosters. In addition, all 30 Major League Clubs feature at least two former USA Baseball national team members to begin the season.
The New York Mets lead all clubs with 11 former Team USA members, while the Philadelphia Phillies have the second-most on their roster with nine. The Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals have eight each on their roster, and seven alums are with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres.
In total, 23 of the 30 Clubs feature four or more players who suited up for the red, white, and blue in international competition.
Three alums were named as the Opening Day starting pitchers for their respective clubs: Miles Mikolas (St. Louis Cardinals), Max Scherzer (New York Mets), and Marcus Stroman (Chicago Cubs). Mikolas most recently won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he surrendered one earned run in a combined six innings out of the bullpen.
Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers) and Blake Sabol (San Francisco Giants) debuted on an MLB roster to begin the 2023 season; meanwhile, reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander is in his 18th season in the big leagues and reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt began his 11th season in the MLB on Friday.
Eight alums are managing around the league, including Aaron Boone (New York Yankees), Terry Francona (Cleveland Guardians), Joe Girardi (Philadelphia Phillies), AJ Hinch (Detroit Tigers), Mark Kotsay (Oakland Athletics), Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers), David Ross (Chicago Cubs), and Scott Servais (Seattle Mariners). Francona is the only alum managing an MLB team that has played and coached for a USA Baseball national team.
Additionally, five USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winners find themselves on an opening day roster, including a pair of Chicago White Sox teammates in Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn, as well as Kris Bryant (Colorado Rockies), Kyle Lewis(Seattle Mariners), and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles).
The complete list of USA Baseball alumni on Opening Day rosters is as follows:
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Corbin Carroll – 2018 18U
- Zach Davies – 2007 14U
- Merrill Kelly – 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Evan Longoria – 2007 Professional; 2009 World Baseball Classic
- Jake McCarthy – 2017 Collegiate
- Scott McGough – 2010 Collegiate; 2021 Olympics
- Alek Thomas – 2017 18U
Atlanta Braves
- Travis d'Arnaud - 2011 Professional
- A.J. Minter - 2014 Collegiate
- Matt Olson - 2010 16U
Baltimore Orioles
- Adam Frazier - 2012 Collegiate; 2015 Professional
- Kyle Gibson - 2008 Collegiate
- Cole Irvin - 2011 18U
- Cedric Mullins - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Adley Rutschman - 2018 Collegiate
Boston Red Sox
- Triston Casas - 2015 15U; 2016 & 2017 18U; 2021 Olympics
- Tanner Houck - 2015 & 2016 Collegiate; 2019 Professional
- Reese McGuire - 2012 18U
- Robert Refsnyder - 2007 16U
Chicago Cubs
- Nico Hoerner - 2011 14U; 2012 15U
- Eric Hosmer - 2007 18U; 2010 Professional; 2013 & 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Nick Madrigal - 2011 14U; 2012 15U; 2014 18U; 2017 Collegiate
- Drew Smyly – 2011 Professional; 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Marcus Stroman - 2011 Collegiate; 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Dansby Swanson - 2014 Collegiate
- Jameson Taillon - 2009 18U
- Keegan Thompson - 2011 16U; 2012 18U
Chicago White Sox
- Tim Anderson - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Yasmani Grandal - 2009 Collegiate
- Kendall Graveman - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Joe Kelly - 2007 Collegiate
- Lance Lynn - 2007 Collegiate; 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Andrew Vaughn - 2013 15U; 2017 & 2018 Collegiate; 2019 Professional
Cincinnati Reds - 3
- Will Benson - 2015 18U
- TJ Friedl - 2016 Collegiate
- Hunter Greene - 2014 15U; 2015 & 2016 18U
Cleveland Guardians
- Hunter Gaddis - 2017 Collegiate
- Cam Gallagher - 2015 Professional
Colorado Rockies
- Daniel Bard - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Kris Bryant - 2012 Collegiate
- Kyle Freeland - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Mike Moustakas - 2006 18U; 2010 Professional
Detroit Tigers
- Riley Greene - 2017 18U
- Alex Lange - 2016 Collegiate
- Austin Meadows - 2011 16U
- Spencer Torkelson - 2018 & 2019 Collegiate
Houston Astros
- Alex Bregman - 2010 16U; 2011 18U; 2013 & 2014 Collegiate; 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Ryan Pressly - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Ryne Stanek - 2011 & 2012 Collegiate
- Kyle Tucker - 2012 15U; 2023 World Baseball Classic
Kansas City Royals
- Jackie Bradley Jr. - 2010 Collegiate
- MJ Melendez - 2016 18U
- Brady Singer - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Bobby Witt Jr. - 2018 18U; 2023 World Baseball Classic
Los Angeles Angels
- Tyler Anderson - 2010 Collegiate
- Reid Detmers - 2019 Collegiate
- Brett Phillips - 2015 Professional
- Anthony Rendon - 2010 Collegiate
- Matt Thaiss - 2015 Collegiate
- Mike Trout - 2010 Professional; 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Taylor Ward - 2014 Collegiate
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Mookie Betts - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Freddie Freeman - 2005 16U; 2006 18U
- Clayton Kershaw - 2005 18U
- Will Smith - 2023 World Baseball Classic
Miami Marlins
- Braxton Garrett - 2015 18U
- A.J. Puk - 2015 Collegiate
Milwaukee Brewers
- Matt Bush - 2002 16U; 2003 18U
- Hoby Milner - 2011 Collegiate
- Garrett Mitchell - 2019 Collegiate
- Brice Turang - 2014 15U; 2016 & 2017 18U
- Devin Williams - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Jesse Winker - 2011 18U
- Christian Yelich - 2017 World Baseball Classic
Minnesota Twins
- Kyle Farmer - 2012 Collegiate
- Joey Gallo - 2011 18U
- Sonny Gray - 2009 & 2010 Collegiate
- Joe Ryan - 2021 Olympics
- Cole Sands - 2012 15U; 2016 Collegiate
- Caleb Thielbar - 2019 Professional
New York Mets
- Pete Alonso - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Tommy Hunter - 2006 Collegiate
- Francisco Lindor - 2009 16U; 2010 18U
- Jeff McNeil - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Stephen Nogosek - 2009 14U; 2015 Collegiate
- Adam Ottavino - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- David Peterson - 2016 Collegiate
- Brooks Raley - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- David Robertson - 2017 World Baseball Classic; 2021 Olympics
- Max Scherzer - 2005 Collegiate
- Justin Verlander - 2003 Collegiate
New York Yankees
- Kyle Higashioka - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Giancarlo Stanton – 2013 & 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Jose Trevino - 2012 Collegiate
- Anthony Volpe - 2013 12U; 2016 15U; 2018 18U
Oakland Athletics
- Nick Allen - 2013 15U; 2016 18U; 2021 Olympics
- Zach Jackson - 2015 Collegiate
- Shea Langeliers - 2018 Collegiate
- Brent Rooker - 2019 Professional
Philadelphia Phillies
- Alec Bohm - 2019 Professional
- Nick Castellanos - 2009 18U
- Dalton Guthrie - 2016 Collegiate
- Josh Harrison - 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Craig Kimbrel - 2013 World Baseball Classic
- JT Realmuto - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Kyle Schwarber - 2013 Collegiate; 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Bryson Stott - 2018 Collegiate
- Trea Turner - 2012 & 2013 Collegiate; 2023 World Baseball Classic
Pittsburgh Pirates
- David Bednar - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Chase De Jong - 2011 18U
- Ke'Bryan Hayes - 2014 18U
- Andrew McCutchen - 2004 18U; 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Bryan Reynolds - 2014 Collegiate
San Diego Padres
- Jake Cronenworth - 2019 Professional
- David Dahl - 2011! 18U
- Trenton Grisham - 2014! 18U
- Josh Hader - 2015 Professional
- Nick Martinez - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Michael Wacha - 2011 Collegiate
- Ryan Weathers - 2017! 18U
San Francisco Giants
- Michael Conforto - 2012 & 2013 Collegiate
- Brandon Crawford - 2006 Collegiate; 2017 World Baseball Classic
- Blake Sabol - 2013 15U
Seattle Mariners
- JP Crawford - 2009 14U
- Marco Gonzales - 2012 Collegiate
- Jarred Kelenic - 2016 & 2017 18U
- Penn Murfee - 2019 Professional
- AJ Pollock - 2011 Professional
- Robbie Ray - 2009 18U
- Paul Sewald - 2015 Professional
- Kolten Wong - 2009 Collegiate
St. Louis Cardinals
- Nolan Arenado - 2017 & 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Alec Burleson - 2019 Collegiate
- Jack Flaherty - 2013 18U
- Paul Goldschmidt - 2017 & 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Nolan Gorman - 2017 18U
- Miles Mikolas - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Andre Pallante - 2018 Collegiate
- Zack Thompson - 2018 Collegiate
Tampa Bay Rays
- Jason Adam - 2023 World Baseball Classic
- Zach Eflin - 2015 Professional
- Taylor Walls - 2016 Collegiate
Texas Rangers
- Robbie Grossman - 2007 18U
- Travis Jankowski - 2015 Professional
- Josh Jung - 2018 Collegiate
- Ian Kennedy - 2002 18U; 2004 & 2005 Collegiate
- Brad Miller - 2009 & 2010 Collegiate
- Corey Seager - 2010 16U
Toronto Blue Jays
- Cavan Biggio - 2012 18U
- Matt Chapman - 2013 Collegiate
- Kevin Gausman - 2009 18U; 2011 Collegiate
- George Springer - 2010 Collegiate
- Dalton Varsho - 2019 Professional
Washington Nationals
- CJ Abrams - 2018 18U
- Mason Thompson - 2013 15U
- Trevor Williams - 2012 Collegiate
