Long Beach State University Athletics
Ten Dirtbags Adorn MLB Opening Day Rosters
3/29/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
LONG BEACH, Calif. - In each of the last eight seasons, no college or university has had more former players on Major League Baseball rosters than Long Beach State. With the 2018 MLB season getting underway on Thursday, LBSU can once again boast a strong group of baseball alumni in the big leagues. A total of 10 former Dirtbags are on MLB rosters to begin the 2018 season, with a handful of others on the cusp of reaching The Show.
There are many players in new places this season, led by third baseman Evan Longoria, who was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the San Francisco Giants during the offseason. The 32-year-old Longoria is entering his 11th big league campaign, and his first with a team other than the Rays. He is one of five Opening Day Dirtbags starting the season with a new team.
Starting pitcher Jason Vargas, fresh off his American League All-Star nod in 2017, has switched leagues and opens the 2018 season as a member of the New York Mets. Vargas will have to wait to make his debut due to a broken bone in his non-pitching hand, but he is on New York's active roster and should join the rotation in early April.
A few bullpen arms also changed teams in free agency as Bryan Shaw moved from the Cleveland Indians to the Colorado Rockies and Jared Hughes moved from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Cincinnati Reds. Reliever Shane Carle made his MLB debut last season with the Colorado Rockies, and will start 2018 in the Atlanta Braves bullpen, earning a roster spot with his nine Spring Training appearances for the Braves.
Another former Dirtbag who made his big league debut in 2017, catcher Mike Marjama, will open the season as the backup catcher for the Seattle Mariners. A September call-up a season ago, Marjama has been solid in Spring Training for the M's, hitting .300 over his 40 at bats with a pair of home runs and six RBIs. He will be joining another former Dirtbag in Seattle, key late-game reliever Nick Vincent.
LBSU's duo with the Toronto Blue Jays remains intact as starting pitcher Marco Estrada and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki are set to begin another season north of the border. Infielder Matt Duffy is back from the injury that forced him to miss last season, and projects to be a key contributor for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018.
List of Former Dirtbags on MLB Opening Day Rosters:
Shane Carle, Atlanta Braves
Matt Duffy, Tampa Bay Rays
Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Jared Hughes, Cincinnati Reds
Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants
Mike Marjama, Seattle Mariners
Bryan Shaw, Colorado Rockies
Troy Tulowitzki, Toronto Blue Jays
Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Nick Vincent, Seattle Mariners
