NEWS

It's baseball season! The 2024 Major League Baseball season opens on Thursday, March 28, and 20 Ripken Sr. League alumni are on MLB rosters. Learn all about them below.

 

Arizona Diamondbacks

LHP Joe Mantiply (Big Train 2010) was a key part of an Arizona bullpen that made it all the way to the World Series in 2023. The left-hander made 39 relief appearances, with a 4.62 ERA and 28 strikeouts. He figures to be an important piece of the bullpen again this year.

 

Baltimore Orioles

2B/3B Jordan Westburg (Giants 2017) returns for his first full season in the big leagues after debuting last summer. The versatile infielder hit .260/.311/.404 with 22 extra-base hits in 68 games, and figures to be a key part of the Orioles’ lineup this year.

 

Chicago Cubs

RHP Jose Cuas (Giants 2014) played infield in the Cal Ripken Sr. League but has transitioned into a lethal bullpen arm at the professional level. He struck out 71 hitters across 65.1 innings between the Royals and Cubs, and had a 3.04 ERA in his final 27 appearances in Chicago.

 

Chicago White Sox

1B/OF Gavin Sheets (Redbirds 2014-15) hit .203 with 20 extra-base hits in 110 games last year, and figures to be a key lefty bench bat for the White Sox this season.

 

Cincinnati Reds

OF Stuart Fairchild (Redbirds 2015) made his first Opening Day roster last year and rewarded the Reds with speed on the basepaths (10 steals) and strong defense across all three outfield positions.

 

Houston Astros

RHP Hunter Brown (Big Train 2018) had a strong rookie campaign for the Astros, making 29 starts and striking out 178 batters across 155.2 innings of work. He projects to be Houston’s No. 3 starter this season as they hunt for another division title.

RHP JP France (Big Train 2014) became a fixture in the Houston rotation last year after a mid-season callup. He pitched to a 3.83 ERA in 136.1 innings across 23 starts. He should factor into the rotation alongside Brown, his fellow Big Train alum.

 

Kansas City Royals

OF Hunter Renfroe (Big Train 2011-12) will man right field in his first season with the Royals. The Ripken Sr. League’s single-season home run leader has 177 long balls across his eight-year MLB career, including 20 last year with the Angels and Reds.

 

Los Angeles Angels

1B Nolan Schanuel (Big Train 2021) debuted last August after being drafted less than two months earlier. He showcased his discipline with 20 walks and a .402 OBP in 29 games, and should be the starting first baseman in Anaheim this season.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

OF James Outman (Big Train 2017), fresh off a top-3 finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting, is the starting center fielder in a stacked Dodger lineup. The power-speed threat hit 23 homers and stole 16 bases last year and is a threat for a 20-20 season this year.

INF/OF Chris Taylor (Braves 2009) brings versatility to the Dodgers’ roster. He saw time at five different defensive positions last year while hitting 15 homers, stealing 16 bases, and posting a .746 OPS.

 

Miami Marlins

C Nick Fortes (Redbirds 2016) returns behind the plate for the Marlins after appearing in 108 games for them a year ago. He caught all of ace lefty Jesus Luzardo’s games in 2023 and figures to be an important presence for the Miami pitching staff again this season.

 

Milwaukee Brewers

INF Joey Ortiz (Dodgers 2017) joins the Brew Crew after an offseason trade from Baltimore. He played in a handful of games for the Orioles last year but spent most of his time with Triple-A Norfolk, where he hit .321/.378/.507 in 88 contests.

 

Oakland Athletics

LHP Ken Waldichuk (Big Train 2017) opens the season on the injured list as he recovers from an elbow injury. The southpaw finished second on the A’s in innings pitched (141) last year with a 5.36 ERA and 132 strikeouts. 

 

San Francisco Giants

1B/OF LaMonte Wade Jr. (Redbirds 2012-13) returns as the Giants’ primary first baseman after another strong campaign last year. He played in a career-high 135 games, with 17 homers, a .790 OBP, and a team-leading 76 walks.

 

Seattle Mariners

1B Ty France (Big Train 2013) returns for his fourth full season in Seattle as the Mariners’ starting first baseman. He hit .250 with 12 homers last year, and mashed 20 home runs in his All-Star campaign the year before.

RHP Logan Gilbert (Big Train 2016) has become a fixture in the Mariners’ stable of elite starters. The right-hander has made 64 starts over the last two seasons, pitching to a 3.47 ERA with 363 strikeouts in 376.1 innings of work. 

 

St. Louis Cardinals

OF Alec Burleson (Big Train 2019) projects to be an important bat for the Cardinals this season. A year ago, he hit .244 with eight homers, 20 doubles, and 36 RBIs in 107 games.

 

Tampa Bay Rays

2B Brandon Lowe (Big Train 2014) has become a fixture in the Rays’ infield. He missed time to injury last year, but still mashed 21 home runs with a .771 OPS in 109 games. He finished top-10 in AL MVP voting in both 2020 and 2021, with an .877 OPS across those two seasons.

 

Texas Rangers

1B Nathaniel Lowe (River Dogs 2015) and the Texas Rangers are coming off their first World Series title in 2023. The lefty slugger has averaged 21 home runs per season over his three years in Texas. He opens the season on the injured list but figures to be an important part of the Ranger offense yet again this year.