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Opening Day in the professional ranks has long since passed us by, and that means that dozens of Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League alumni have taken to the field.

For a summer, and in some cases, more than one summer, they played on diamonds at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor, Cochran Park in Peconic, and in other parks throughout the East End. Now they’re taking steps toward playing at the highest level – the major leagues.

Established in 2008, the HCBL began the year with two players at the Triple-A ranks – Reno Aces shortstop Nick Ahmed (Westhampton ’09) and Oklahoma City RedHawks righthander Nick Tropeano (Riverhead ’09; pictured above). Each got off to a solid start in 2014, with Ahmed batting .238 with a homer and nine RBI in 25 games, and Tropeano compiling an 2.74 ERA over six appearances (all stats through April 30).

One of the original Sag Harbor Whalers, Phil Klein, returned to Frisco, the Texas Rangers’ Double-A affiliate, for a second season, and has been a key cog out of the bullpen. In eight appearances, he has a 3-0 record, boasts a 1.42 ERA, and has struck out 19 batters over 12 2/3 innings.

At the High-A level, 2011 HCBL Most Valuable Player Kevin Heller (Westhampton ’11) is batting .313 with a .450 on base percentage for the Boston Red Sox’ affiliate in Salem. Twelve out of his 20 hits have gone for extra bases. Across the country, homegrown righthander Kyle McGowin (Sag Harbor ’11, ’12) has shined in his first month with High-A Inland Empire, posting a 1.64 ERA in six starts, all of which he has surrendered two or fewer earned runs.

There is a strong contingent of HCBL alumni in Class A, including teammates in Riverhead in 2011, Aaron Slegers and Frank Schwindel. Both drafted last year, Slegers is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in five starts with Cedar Rapids, a Twins affiliate, while Schwindel has raised his average to the Rockies affiliate in Lexington. The most eye-popping numbers come courtesy of Zack Godley (Southampton ’10), who in 11 2/3 innings has given up just five hits and struck out 21 batters for the Cubs’ affiliate in Kane County (Ill.). In doing so, he’s racked up five saves for the Cougars.

The HCBL also has dozens of alumni who are playing or who have played professionally. For a complete list of HCBL alumni in the pros and the draft, click here.