Five Former UVA Baseball Players Listed on MLB Opening Day Rosters

Virginia is tied with Louisville for the ACC lead for most former players on MLB rosters to start the season

Matt Newton | Mar 31, 2023

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 Major League Baseball season officially got underway on Thursday and five former Virginia baseball players found themselves on the Opening Day rosters of an MLB team, which is tied with Louisville for most in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Daniel Lynch - Kansas City Royals [UVA 2016-2018]

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Daniel Lynch (52) delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. — Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Jake McCarthy - Arizona Diamondbacks [UVA 2016-2018]

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field. — Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Sborz - Texas Rangers [UVA 2013-2015]

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Josh Sborz (66) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. — Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Taylor - Los Angeles Dodgers [UVA 2010-2012]

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chris Taylor (3) high fives a teammate after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning at Oracle Park. — Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Thaiss - Los Angeles Angels [UVA 2014-2016]

Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss (21) checks a swing against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at Peoria Sports Complex. — Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Some other former UVA baseball players who are currently in the Minor League systems of an MLB franchise to start the season:

Sean Doolittle - Washington Nationals Minor League Camp [UVA 2005-2007]
Ernie Clement - Toronto Blue Jays AAA [UVA 2015-2017]
Tommy Doyle - Colorado Rockies AAA [UVA 2015-2017]
Zack Gelof - Oakland Athletics AAA [UVA 2019-2021]
Adam Haseley - Chicago White Sox AAA [UVA 2015-2017]
John Hicks - Philadelphia Phillies AAA [UVA 2009-2011]
Griff McGarry - Philadelphia Phillies AAA [UVA 2018-2021]
Tanner Morris - Toronto Blue Jays AAA [UVA 2018-2019]
Pavin Smith - Arizona Diamondbacks AAA/40-Man [UVA 2015-2017]
Bennett Sousa - Cincinnati Reds AAA/40-Man [UVA 2015-2018]
Andrew Abbott - Cincinnati Reds AA [UVA 2019-2021]
Connor Jones - Seattle Mariners AA [UVA 2014-2016]
Noah Murdock - Kansas City Royals AA [UVA 2017-2019]
Andy Weber - Chicago Cubs AA [UVA 2016-2018]
Derek Casey - Chicago Cubs High-A [UVA 2015-2018]
Nic Kent - Colorado Rockies High-A [UVA 2019-2021]
Caleb Knight - Chicago Cubs High-A [UVA 2017-2018]
Mike Vasil - New York Mets High-A [UVA 2019-2021]
Kyle Whitten - Tampa Bay Rays High-A [UVA 2018-2021]
Will Geerdes - San Diego Padres A [UVA 2022]
Zach Messinger - New York Yankees A [UVA 2019-2021]
Brian Gursky - New York Mets Rookie [UVA 2022]
Brandon Neeck - Los Angeles Dodgers Rookie [UVA 2019-2022]
Chris Newell - Los Angeles Dodgers Rookie [UVA 2018-2022]
Devin Ortiz - San Diego Padres Rookie [UVA 2018-2022]

Stay up to date on all the former Virginia athletes playing at the professional level here: Pro Hoos on Sports Illustrated

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Published Mar 31, 2023

MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.