LSU Gold

Eight Tigers on MLB Opening Day Rosters

by Bill Franques
Tigers in the Majors +0
Eight Tigers on MLB Opening Day Rosters

BATON ROUGE, La. – Eight former LSU players appear on Major League Baseball active rosters as the 2010 MLB season opens this week.

The active players include outfielder Brad Hawpe (Colorado), infielder Aaron Hill (Toronto), shortstop Ryan Theriot (Chicago Cubs), second baseman Mike Fontenot (Chicago Cubs), left-handed pitcher Brian Tallet (Toronto), right-handed pitcher Brian Wilson (San Francisco), left-handed pitcher Greg Smith (Colorado) and outfielder Nick Stavinoha (St. Louis).

Tallet, who began his career with Cleveland, is in his eighth MLB season, while Hawpe, a 2009 National League All-Star, is entering his seventh year with the Rockies.

Theriot and Fontenot are entering their sixth and fifth seasons, respectively, with the Cubs. They were integral parts of Chicago’s drive to the 2007 NL Central Division title.

Hill, a 2009 American League All-Star, is in his sixth season with the Blue Jays, and Wilson, a 2008 National League All-Star, begins his fifth season with the Giants.

Stavinoha is in his third season with the Cardinals, while Smith is in his first season with the Rockies after beginning his MLB career in 2008 with Oakland.

Ten former Tigers appeared on major league rosters during the 2009 season. LSU has produced 43 MLB players since 1987, including 23 pitchers and 20 position players.

The Tigers have had at least one former player make his MLB debut in 18 of the past 19 seasons.