Major League Baseball returns after a lockout that had many fans wondering if there would even be a 2022 season. Now that the owners and the players union have come to an agreement, it is game-on for the boys of summer after an abbreviated spring training.
Heading into the new season, the University of Florida currently has ten former Gators gracing the opening day rosters of several major league teams. Almost all of the names are recognizable from the school’s 2017 national championship squad, while a couple of older players are still chasing their baseball dreams.
Below, you can find all eleven former Florida Gators baseball players who made the 2022 opening day roster for their respective MLB franchises, updated to include late addition, Darren O’Day.
Pete Alonso – First Base – New York Mets
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
2021 Stats:
G
AB
H
R
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
152
561
147
81
27
3
37
94
60
127
.262
.344
.519
Pete Alonso burst on the scene with the New York Mets in 2019, earning an All-Star bid in his debut campaign while leading the majors in home runs with 53 en route to a 7th-place finish in the NL MVP vote and a Rookie of the Year Award. The first baseman added some hardware to his collection last season when he outlasted Tre Mancini for the Home Run Derby title.
Harrison Bader – Outfield – St. Louis Cardinals
Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
2021 Stats:
G
AB
H
R
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
103
367
45
98
21
1
16
50
27
85
.267
.324
.460
Despite some injuries that slowed him down, Harrison Bader had a fine season with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021 both with the stick and the glove, earning himself a Golden Glove award for his efforts with the latter. The center fielder signed a tidy two-year, $10.4 million contract prior to the season to avoid salary arbitration and looks to continue his ascent in his sixth major league…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Baseball | Gators Wire