A look at Gamecock alums on MLB Opening Day
MLB Opening Day is finally here. The season technically began over in South Korea last week with the Dodgers and Padres playing a brief two-game series overseas. But Thursday marks the first day in which all 30 teams will be playing, weather permitting.
And there will be a few former South Carolina baseball alums on Opening Day rosters. It’s shaping up to be a fun year of baseball. Here’s a look at where each former Gamecock is playing this season.
Whit Merrifield — Philadelphia Phillies
After spending much of the offseason waiting for the phone to ring, Merrifield finally got a call. And it came from the Phillies.
Merrifield joins a roster that’s loaded with talent and should be in a position to make the postseason. The 35-year-old spent last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he made his third All-Star team. He hit .272 with 11 homers and 67 RBIs in 145 games.
He’s listed on the team’s roster as a second baseman. But he should continue to be more of a utility man with Bryson Stott manning down everyday duties at that position. The good thing about Merrifield is that he can play pretty much anywhere in the infield or outfield.
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Jordan Montgomery — Arizona Diamondbacks
For a time, it seemed like Montgomery might not get signed in free agency, which would’ve been a shock. But on Monday night, he agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks.
The left-hander is coming off arguably his best year as a big leaguer. He went 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA after spending time with both the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers. But it was after he was traded to Texas where things picked up for him.
Montgomery was a focal point in leading the Rangers to their first World Series title in 2023. He pitched to a 2.90 ERA across five starts with 17 strikeouts to five walks.
There were rumors that he had some long-term deals on the table. But after lots of waiting, he decides to join Arizona, the team in which he helped beat in the Fall Classic. Though, don’t expect him to pitch anytime soon. Since he missed all of Spring Training, he’ll have to work his way up to be ready for the regular season. But the important thing is that he’s back.
Clarke Schmidt — New York Yankees
After injuries helped him land a spot in the starting rotation last year, Schmidt will be out to prove he belongs long-term with the Yankees. The former Gamecock had himself a great spring and will pitch on Sunday against the Houston Astros.
In his first full season as a starter at the big league level, Schmidt went 9-9 with a 4.64 ERA over 159 innings. He struck out 149 batters and walked 46. He got off to such a rough start in April, but he pitched to a 3.28 ERA over the next two months. So the stuff is there for a good season.
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Christian Walker — Arizona Diamondbacks
In his age-32 season, Walker will try to continue to age like a fine wine in the last years of his prime. The D-backs slugger hit .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs last year, helping Arizona get to the World Series.
After a shortened 2021 campaign, Walker has hit 30 or more homers in back-to-back seasons. If he can stay healthy, he should have a good chance of doing so again. He’ll be entering his eighth season with the club.
And now, he’ll be joined by his former college teammate Montgomery. The two played together when South Carolina made it to the College World Series for a third straight season in 2012.
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Other notable names
There are a few names absent from this list. Carmen Mlodzinski, who was great as a reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, will start this season on the injured list. As of March 25, he was set to throw a live batting practice session sometime this week.
Right-hander Cody Morris, who was competing for a spot in the Yankees bullpen, didn’t make the roster. He’s still on the 40-man roster and will presumably start the year in Triple-A.
Jonah Bride was traded from the Oakland A’s to the Miami Marlins on Feb. 7. On March 11, he was optioned to Triple-A and will begin the season there. But many expect the Marlins to not be very good this year, so there’s a chance he joins the big league club at some point.
After being a nice arm out of the bullpen with the Pirates, Wil Crowe is now pitching in South Korea in the KBO League. He signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Kia Tigers back in January.
Lastly, Jackie Bradley Jr. has yet to be signed by a team heading into the season. The former ALCS MVP last played with the Kansas City Royals in 2023. It does appear he’s continued to train in hopes of being picked up again.
