NEWS

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Nineteen NECBL alumni were on 15 Major League Baseball teams’ 25-man rosters on 2016 Opening Day.  The Miami Marlins boasted the highest number of alumni with three: pitchers Craig Breslow, Tom Koehler and Adam Conley.

The St. Louis Cardinals claim two with infielders Matt Adams and Greg Garcia.  Adams, the 2008 NECBL MVP, was the first graduate to see action in the 2016 season.

The Cleveland Indians are the other team to have two graduates, with pitcher Dan Otero and outfielder Rajai Davis. 

Davis is one of several veterans on Opening Day rosters to have changed teams in the offseason.  Catcher Chris Iannetta is now on the Seattle Mariners and outfielder Matt Joyce plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Locally, the Boston Red Sox sport Massachusetts native and catcher Ryan Hanigan on their 25-man.

Two prominent names- former All Stars Andre Ethier and A.J. Pollock- do not appear on their team’s 25 mans due to injury.  The NECBL wishes both a speedy recovery.

Last season, a record 59 graduates played in the Major Leagues.  120 NECBL alums have reached The Show.

NECBL Alumni on 2016 MLB Opening Day Rosters:

Team      Player
MIA         Adam Conley
CIN          Adam Duvall
LAD         Alex Wood
COL         Ben Paulsen
OAK         Bily Burns
TOR         Chris Colabello
SEA          Chris Iannetta
MIA         Craig Breslow
CLE          Dan Otero
STL           Greg Garcia
LAA          Joe Smith
HOU        Josh Fields
STL           Matt Adams
PIT           Matt Joyce
CLE          Rajai Davis
BOS         Ryan Hanigan
WAS        Stephen Strasburg
TB             Steve Geltz
MIA         Tom Koehler

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The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the NECBL started play in 1994 and has sent over 100 alumni to the Major Leagues. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on Twitter and on Facebook.