Opening Day MLB Rosters Feature 13 C-USA Players
April 3, 2008
For the second straight season, a total of 13 players from Conference USA schools appeared on the opening day rosters of Major League Baseball teams as the American and National leagues began regular season play this week. Seven of C-USA's nine baseball schools are represented, with players appearing on 10 different big league teams. Seven of the 13 players are pitchers, while three are outfielders. The Arizona Diamondbacks have three C-USA players on its opening day roster for the second year in a row. Former East Carolina star Chad Tracy plays first and third base, ex-Houston standout Chris Snyder starts at catcher and former Tulane two-way star Micah Owings, the 2005 C-USA Player of the Year, is in the Diamondbacks starting pitching rotation and regarded as one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball. The Houston Astros also have three players that hail from C-USA on its roster - starting center fielder Michael Bourn (Houston), reserve outfielder Jose Cruz, Jr. (Rice) and four-time MLB all-star Lance Berkman, who starts at first base.
Houston and Rice each have the most major league players with four. In addition to Snyder and Bourn, the Cougars pro standouts include Twins reliever Jesse Crain and Nationals reliever Ryan Wagner. Cruz and Berkman are joined by Red Sox relief pitcher David Aardsma and Twins starting pitcher Philip Humber among Rice's current major leaguers. Memphis is represented by Marlins starting second baseman Dan Uggla, a runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year in 2006. Former Southern Miss sidewinder Chad Bradford is in his second season in the Baltimore Orioles bullpen, while ex-Golden Eagle starter John Bale is in the Kansas City Royals rotation. Here's a look at all of the C-USA players on current MLB rosters. Player Position MLB Affiliation C-USA School Chad Tracy IF Arizona Diamondbacks East Carolina Michael Bourn OF Houston Astros Houston Jesse Crain RHP Minnesota Twins Houston Chris Snyder C Arizona Diamondbacks Houston Ryan Wagner RHP Washington Nationals Houston Daniel Uggla 2B Florida Marlins Memphis David Aardsma RHP Boston Red Sox Rice Lance Berkman OF Houston Astros Rice Jose Cruz, Jr. OF Houston Astros Rice Philip Humber RHP Minnesota Twins Rice John Bale LHP Kansas City Royals Southern Miss Chad Bradford RHP Baltimore Orioles Southern Miss Micah Owings RHP Arizona Diamondbacks Tulane In addition to the players on MLB rosters, seven other players are beginning their seasons in the minor leagues, but remain a part of the 40-man rosters for their major league team. Here are those players: Player Position MLB Affiliation C-USA School Rob Johnson C Seattle Mariners Houston Garrett Mock RHP Washington Nationals Houston Philip Barzilla RHP Houston Astros Rice Jeff Niemann RHP Tampa Bay Rays Rice Jarrett Hoffpauir 2B St. Louis Cardinals Southern Miss Bob McCrory RHP Baltimore Orioles Southern Miss Michael Aubrey 1B Cleveland Indians Tulane |
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