Seven former LSU baseball players are on Opening Day rosters in 2024, with the MLB season starting on Thursday.
The Tigers' group of players on active rosters include MLB All-Stars, Silver Sluggers and Cy Young finalists.
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The Tigers, one of the winningest SEC programs ever, have seven national championships, including a victory over Florida in the 2023 College World Series final. LSU also should have a few more additions at the MLB level this season, as the Nos. 3 and 7 prospects — Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, respectively — are on the fast track to the big leagues after being drafted first and second overall, respectively, in last year's draft.
Here's the full list of LSU players on Opening Day rosters:
LSU baseball players on MLB Opening Day rosters
Here's the full list of LSU players on Opening Day rosters in 2024:
- Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (LSU 2013-15)
- Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (LSU 2011-12)
- Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (LSU 2012-14)
- New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu LSU (2008-09)
- Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith (LSU 2017-19)
- Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange (2015-17)
- Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (2014-16)
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Bregman, in his ninth season with the Astros, was drafted second overall out of LSU in 2015 and has won two World Series with Houston as the starter. He also won the 2019 Silver Slugger, given to the American League's best hitter at third base.
Gausman played for the Tigers from 2011-12 and has blossomed into a yearly Cy Young candidate in the MLB, finishing third for the AL's Pitcher of the Year award last season. Joining Gausman as former LSU pitchers to become elite MLB arms is Aaron Nola, who played in Baton Rouge from 2012-14 and is in his 10th season in the Phillies' rotation.
LeMahieu, the most experienced former LSU player, is in his 14th MLB season and sixth with the Yankees. He's a three-time MLB All-Star and has won the batting title twice, once with the Colorado Rockies and another with New York.
Smith and Fraley are a pair of depth options for the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds, respectively, with Smith winning the World Series last season. Fraley is in his sixth MLB season.
Lange, one of the top relief options for the Tigers, was drafted in the first round in 2017 after being named a first-team All-American at LSU.
