Ten Bruin Alums Named to 2024 MLB Opening Day Rosters
- 2 months ago
Ten alumni of the UCLA baseball program were named to the Opening Day rosters of their respective clubs as the 2024 Major League Baseball season officially got underway on Thursday.
A total of four former Bruin standouts were named to their teams' active rosters: right-handed pitcher Jake Bird (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 post for the new campaign in Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks). UCLA remains the only college in the country with multiple alums managing MLB clubs.
In addition, a further four Bruin alums will start the year on the Major League Injured List: 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).
Today marks the first time that Bird and Toglia will be taking part in Opening Day festivities. This also marks Crawford's first Opening Day in St. Louis after a storied 13-year run with the San Francisco Giants.
A total of four former Bruin standouts were named to their teams' active rosters: right-handed pitcher Jake Bird (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 post for the new campaign in Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks). UCLA remains the only college in the country with multiple alums managing MLB clubs.
In addition, a further four Bruin alums will start the year on the Major League Injured List: 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).
Today marks the first time that Bird and Toglia will be taking part in Opening Day festivities. This also marks Crawford's first Opening Day in St. Louis after a storied 13-year run with the San Francisco Giants.