Nine Diamond Dawg standouts set for Opening Day in the MLB

It’s Opening Day in Major League Baseball.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs got things started last week in Japan, but everyone else will join on Thursday. The list of players includes nine former Mississippi State standouts that are on rosters for game one.

State has produced some great major leaguers over the years and several of those are still playing. After a year that kept a lot of former Bulldogs out of action on the mound due to injuries, those players are back and ready to suit up for game one.

Another crop of State players are also on the way to the main roster with others having already made it and looking to get back in from AAA. The minor league season is also gearing up and will be updated throughout the year weekly as we do with the MLB stats.

Here is a look at the Opening Day schedule and the Bulldogs that will participate.

RHP Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee Brewers at New York Yankees, 2:05 pm (ESPN)

Last Season: N/A (Out for year with shoulder injury)

 Career: 9 seasons, 46-26, 3.10 ERA, 130 appearances, 115 starts, 1 save, 680.1 IP, 535 H, 243 R, 234 ER, 176 BB, 788 K

Woodruff spent all of last year on the mend from a shoulder surgery, but the Brewers’ ace is back and ready to roll. He and his teammates will start by taking on last year’s American League champions in the New York Yankees.

In his first seven years, Woodruff has grown into one of the National League’s best starting pitcher with an ERA just above 3.00 and nearly 800 career strikeouts in 680 innings.

2B Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays, 2:07 p.m.

Last Season: 107 G, .264 BA, 110 H, 57 R, 26 2B, 5 3B, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 22 BB, 97 K, .312 OBP, .481 SLG , 6-9 SB

Career: 3 seasons, 175 G, .263 BA, 164 H, 83 R, 43 2B, 7 3B, 21 HR, 86 RBI, 38 BB, 153 K, .312 OBP, .455 SLG, 10-14 SB

After getting some good work in as a Rookie, Westburg had a huge second year with the Orioles. Westburg earned All-Star honors as he hit 18 home runs and 63 RBI. He’s primed for another great year this season as he continues to become a rising star for the franchise.

1B Nate Lowe, Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 3:05 p.m.

Last Season: 140 G, .265 BA, 129 H, 62 R, 16 2B, 1 3B, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 71 BB, 125 K, 2-2 SB, .361 OBP, .401 SLG

 Career: 7 seasons, 686 G, .272 BA, 673 H, 334 R, 114 2B, 10 3B, 89 HR, 329 RBI, 314 BB, 677 K, 14-16 SB, .356 OBP, .433 SLG

For the third time in his career, Lowe is on the move.

The first baseman has been one of the better defenders at his position with the Tampa Rays and Texas Rangers and he’s also been consistent at the plate. He’s now going to be taking his talents to Washington and will play the Phillies at home on Thursday.

RHP Chris Stratton, Kansas City Royals vs. Cleveland Guardians, 3:10 p.m.

Last Season: 4-3, 5.55 ERA, 57 App., 4 SV, 58.1 IP, 53 H, 38 R, 36 ER, 33 BB, 44 K

Career: 10 seasons, 41-27, 4.53 ERA, 359 app., 42 starts, 16 SV, 603.1 IP, 606 H, 330 R, 304 ER, 249 BB, 548 K

OF Hunter Renfroe, Royals     

Last Season: 120 G, .229 BA, 88 H, 44 R, 18 2B, 15 HR, 52 RBI, 36 BB, 84 K, .297 OBP, .392 SLG, 1-2 SB

Career: 10 seasons, 961 G, .238 BA, 790 H, 449 R, 180 2B, 4 3B, 192 HR, 506 RBI, 281 BB, 905 K, 15-20 SB, .299 OBP, .468 SLG

The former SEC Pitcher of the Year has been a part of several franchises over the years and has grown accustomed to moving. This year, he has a chance to pitch for the same team two years in a row this year as he plays for the Royals again this year.

Stratton and his former college teammate Hunter Renfroe will both be suiting up on opening day. Renfroe is another player that has worn a lot of different hats but he continues to play at a high level in the field.

RHP J.P. France, Houston Astros vs. New York Mets, 3:10 p.m.

Last Season:  0-3, 7.46 ERA, 5 S, 25.1 IP, 31 H, 21 R, 8 BB, 16 K

Career: 3 seasons, 11-9, 4.40 ERA, 29 App., 28 S, 161.2 IP, 169 H, 85 R, 79 ER, 55 BB, 123 K

France was one of several former Bulldog pitchers who dealt with injuries last season. He started five times but would end the season early. After rehabbing in the offseason, he’s now primed for another good season.

A pitcher for the Bulldogs in their 2018 run to the College World Series, France earned his way into the Astros rotation a couple of years ago and has stuck with the main roster. He has started 28 games.

2B Adam Frazier, Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins 3:10 p.m.

Last Season:  104 G, .202 BA, 53 H, 35 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 22 BB, 59 K, .282 OBP, .294 SLG, 3-3 SB

 Career: 10 seasons, 1,066 G, .264 BA, 903 H, 468 R, 180 2B, 28 3B, 60 HR, 339 RBI, 282 BB, 515 K, 55-87 SB, .327 OBP, .385 SLG

Frazier is back where it all started.

After playing for five different teams over the last four years, Frazier is back with the Pirates. The former NCAA hits leader had the best years of his career in Pittsburgh from 2016-21. He enters 2025 with a chance to notch 1,000 career hits with 97 more base knocks.

RHP Kendall Graveman, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs, 9:10 p.m.

Last Season: N/A (Out of the year with shoulder injury)

Career: 11 seasons, 37-43, 3.95 ERA, 279 app., 80 starts, 24 saves, 651.2 IP, 648 H, 312 R, 286 ER, 219 BB, 494 K

Another player that is set to make his return after a year off, the veteran Graveman is getting yet another new start.

Graveman has become a journeyman of sorts with stops at Toronto, Oakland, Seattle, Houston and Chicago. Arizona is next on the list on Thursday night.

OF Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners, 9:10 p.m.

Last Season:  145 G, .293 BA, 160 H, 82 R, 26 2B, 2 3B, 39 HR, 112 RBI, 59 BB, 177 K, .365 OBP, .562 SLG, 11-14 SB

 Career: 6 seasons, 363 G, .258, 322 H, 173 R, 59 2B, 3 3B, 79 HR, 204 RBI, 126 BB, 435 K, 15-18 SB, .337 OBP, .500 SLG

Everything has seemingly come together for Rooker over the last couple of years.

Rooker bounced back and forth from AAA to the MLB for a few years before Oakland put him in the lineup and let him stay there. The last two years have been his best as a pro and he nearly batted .300 a season ago with career highs across the board. He signed a new deal with the A’s and looks to be with the team for the next few years.