Eight Former Hogs on MLB Opening Day Rosters

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Eight former Hogs are set to begin the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

Infielder Brian Anderson (Milwaukee Brewers), pitcher Jalen Beeks (Tampa Bay Rays) outfielder Andrew Benintendi (Chicago White Sox), pitcher Zach Jackson (Oakland Athletics), catcher James McCann (Baltimore Orioles), pitcher Drew Smyly (Chicago Cubs), pitcher Ryne Stanek (Houston Astros) and Trevor Stephan (Cleveland Guardians) are on MLB Opening Day rosters as the 2023 campaign gets underway on Thursday, March 30.

Arkansas is one of four SEC programs with at least eight former players on MLB Opening Day rosters. Florida (10), Vanderbilt (10) and LSU (8) also made the cut.

Stanek won a World Series championship with the Astros last season, becoming the sixth former Razorback to accomplish the feat. The right-hander joined Dick Hughes (1967 – St. Louis Cardinals), Eric Hinske (2007 – Boston Red Sox; 2009 – New York Yankees), Dallas Keuchel (2017 – Houston), Benintendi (2018 – Boston) and Smyly (2021 – Atlanta Braves) in the elite company.

Entering the 2023 season, Arkansas has produced 62 big leaguers in its storied program history. The Razorbacks have also had at least one player selected in each of the past 47 MLB drafts dating back to 1975.

For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow us on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and like us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).