Ten Bruin Alums Named to 2024 MLB Opening Day Rosters

Ten alumni of the UCLA baseball program have been named to the Opening Day rosters of their respective golf equipment because the 2024 Main League Baseball season formally received underway on Thursday.

A complete of 4 former Bruin standouts have been named to their groups’ energetic rosters: right-handed pitcher Jake Hen (Colorado Rockies), right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning (Los Angeles Angels), infielder Brandon Crawford (St. Louis Cardinals), and infielder/outfielder Michael Toglia (Colorado Rockies).

Two longtime MLB managers and UCLA alums return to their submit for the brand new marketing campaign in Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks). UCLA stays the one faculty within the nation with a number of alums managing MLB golf equipment.

As well as, an extra 4 Bruin alums will begin the yr on the Main League Injured Listing: right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees), infielder Matt McLain (Cincinnati Reds), outfielder Garrett Mitchell (Milwaukee Brewers), and right-handed pitcher Zack Weiss (Minnesota Twins).

At present marks the primary time that Hen and Toglia will likely be participating in Opening Day festivities. This additionally marks Crawford’s first Opening Day in St. Louis after a storied 13-year run with the San Francisco Giants.

Hen enters his third MLB season in 2024. He is totaled 108 appearances out of the Colorado bullpen during the last two seasons, pitching to a 4.53 ERA. He had a powerful sophomore season in 2024, tossing 89 1/3 innings over a team-high 70 appearances. Hen had a 4.33 ERA, 117 ERA+, and 77 strikeouts in comparison with simply 27 walks.

Canning in the meantime is about to enter his fifth yr within the Angels’ rotation. The SoCal native made 22 begins a yr in the past, crafting a 4.32 ERA and placing out 139 batters over 127 innings. Canning established profession bests final yr in strikeouts, innings, wins (7), FIP (4.29), and walks allowed per 9 innings (2.6).

Crawford will don the Cardinal pink for the primary time this yr after making 12 consecutive Opening Day begins for the Giants. The 14^th-year vet and four-time Gold Glove Award winner owns a .250 profession common and is in placing distance of a a number of profession milestones together with 1,500 hits (he enters the season with 1,392 knocks), 150 dwelling runs (146), 750 RBIs (744), and 1,700 video games (1,654).

2024 marks the primary Opening Day for Toglia, however he has appeared with the Rockies in every of the final two seasons, accumulating 47 hits, six dwelling runs, and 21 RBIs over 76 video games. The Gig Harbor, Wash. native is coming off a standout spring with Colorado, as he slashed .286/.355/.625 with 5 dwelling runs in simply 23 video games. Toglia is anticipated to see time at first base and outfield this season with the Rockies.

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