Bulldogs in the Big Leagues
In less than three weeks, Major League Baseball is set to begin a season like none other. All teams are slated to play a 60-game schedule, 102 games fewer than in regular years.
All around the MLB landscape, there will be former Mississippi State Bulldogs having a say in who might ultimately lift a World Series championship trophy if the season can make it through the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and into October. Here are the 11 MSU players either on 40-man rosters or on MLB teams' 60-man player pools that are being utilized for this unusual season.
Former Mississippi State players on 40-man rosters:
IF Adam Frazier - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Played at MSU from 2011-2013
RHP Kendall Graveman - Seattle Mariners
- Played at MSU from 2010-2013
RHP Jonathan Holder - New York Yankees
- Played at MSU from 2010-2013
RHP Dakota Hudson - St. Louis Cardinals
- Played at MSU from 2014-2016
IF Nathaniel Lowe - Tampa Bay Rays
- Played at MSU in 2016
IF Mitch Moreland - Boston Red Sox
- Played at MSU from 2005-2007
OF Hunter Renfroe - Tampa Bay Rays
- Played at MSU from 2011-2013
RHP Chris Stratton - Pittsburgh Pirates
- Played at MSU from 2010-2012
RHP Brandon Woodruff - Milwaukee Brewers
- Played at MSU from 2012-2014
Former Mississippi State players on 60-man player pools:
C Jack Kruger - Los Angeles Angels
- Played at MSU in 2016
OF Brent Rooker - Minnesota Twins
- Played at MSU from 2014-2017
Of note, there will be no Minor League Baseball season in 2020. MLB teams are only allowed to use players from its 60-man player pools, so these are likely the only 11 former MSU players who might see action at the big league level in the upcoming campaign (although it is possible a former MSU player could be added to his team's 60-man pool later). When the season starts, the MLB active rosters will be set at 30 players per team. It'll then decrease down to 28, then 26, as the season progresses.
Those in the 60-man pools but not on active MLB rosters will continue to work out and stay in shape in case they are needed due to an injury, sickness or just as a general replacement for an underperforming player.