Mountaineers in the Pros - MLB Recap
September 28, 2020 12:03 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Mountaineers were well-represented in Major League Baseball once again this season.
For the third consecutive year, multiple West Virginia University baseball alumni saw action in The Show. In what was perhaps the most unusual season in the history of the sport, a total of six Mountaineers took part in MLB activities, including three who took the field on the game's highest stage. Take a look at how they fared this season.
David Carpenter, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
The veteran right-hander spent time in the Reds organization as a member of the club's Alternate Training Site roster in Mason, Ohio. After being named to the initial 60-man player pool, he was assigned to the site on July 19.
Michael Grove, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The former second-round pick was invited to participate in the Dodgers' camp as a member of the 60-man player pool in June. On July 19, he was assigned to the Dodgers' Alternative Spring Training Site at USC, where he spent the entire 2020 campaign.
Jedd Gyorko, 1B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers
Gyorko hit .248 with nine home runs and 17 RBIs in his first season in Milwaukee. The Morgantown native tallied 117 at-bats in 42 games, starting 26 games at first base, eight at third base and once as the designated hitter. The eight-year pro hit three doubles and scored 19 runs, helping the Brewers advance to the National League Wild Card Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
The 11th overall selection in the 2019 MLB Draft was included in the Blue Jays' 60-man player pool and took part in Toronto's spring training camp in June. On July 19, Manoah was assigned to the club's Alternate Training Site in Rochester, New York, for the remainder of the season.
Ryan McBroom, 1B/OF, Kansas City Royals
McBroom finished the season hitting .247 with six home runs and 10 RBIs for Kansas City. He appeared in 36 games, including nine starts at first base, eight as the designated hitter and two in left field. Additionally, McBroom registered three doubles and eight runs scored on the year. He etched his name into the Royals' record book when he became the first American League player to record a pinch hit in three straight games (Aug. 26-29) since 2009, and set the Kansas City single-season record for most pinch-hit homers (3). His three pinch-hit long balls came in an 18-day span, the highest single-month total since 1953.
John Means, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
The 2019 American League All-Star went 2-4 with a 4.53 ERA in 10 starts for Baltimore this season. He tallied 42 strikeouts and just seven walks in 43.2 innings pitched. Means really turned it on in his final four outings of the year, allowing just four earned runs and 12 hits in 23.2 innings with 30 strikeouts. He fanned a career-high 12 batters on Sept. 20, against Tampa Bay.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
For the third consecutive year, multiple West Virginia University baseball alumni saw action in The Show. In what was perhaps the most unusual season in the history of the sport, a total of six Mountaineers took part in MLB activities, including three who took the field on the game's highest stage. Take a look at how they fared this season.
David Carpenter, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
The veteran right-hander spent time in the Reds organization as a member of the club's Alternate Training Site roster in Mason, Ohio. After being named to the initial 60-man player pool, he was assigned to the site on July 19.
Michael Grove, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
The former second-round pick was invited to participate in the Dodgers' camp as a member of the 60-man player pool in June. On July 19, he was assigned to the Dodgers' Alternative Spring Training Site at USC, where he spent the entire 2020 campaign.
Jedd Gyorko, 1B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers
Gyorko hit .248 with nine home runs and 17 RBIs in his first season in Milwaukee. The Morgantown native tallied 117 at-bats in 42 games, starting 26 games at first base, eight at third base and once as the designated hitter. The eight-year pro hit three doubles and scored 19 runs, helping the Brewers advance to the National League Wild Card Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
The 11th overall selection in the 2019 MLB Draft was included in the Blue Jays' 60-man player pool and took part in Toronto's spring training camp in June. On July 19, Manoah was assigned to the club's Alternate Training Site in Rochester, New York, for the remainder of the season.
Ryan McBroom, 1B/OF, Kansas City Royals
McBroom finished the season hitting .247 with six home runs and 10 RBIs for Kansas City. He appeared in 36 games, including nine starts at first base, eight as the designated hitter and two in left field. Additionally, McBroom registered three doubles and eight runs scored on the year. He etched his name into the Royals' record book when he became the first American League player to record a pinch hit in three straight games (Aug. 26-29) since 2009, and set the Kansas City single-season record for most pinch-hit homers (3). His three pinch-hit long balls came in an 18-day span, the highest single-month total since 1953.
John Means, LHP, Baltimore Orioles
The 2019 American League All-Star went 2-4 with a 4.53 ERA in 10 starts for Baltimore this season. He tallied 42 strikeouts and just seven walks in 43.2 innings pitched. Means really turned it on in his final four outings of the year, allowing just four earned runs and 12 hits in 23.2 innings with 30 strikeouts. He fanned a career-high 12 batters on Sept. 20, against Tampa Bay.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
RHP/1B
/ BaseballReese Bassinger | Feb. 9
Monday, February 09
Brodie Kresser | Feb. 9
Monday, February 09
Steve Sabins | Feb. 9
Monday, February 09
Steve Sabins | Oct. 29
Wednesday, October 29
