Sun Devil Baseball Celebrates Rich Tradition on MLB Opening Day
PHOENIX – As Major League Baseball celebrates Opening Day, so too does Sun Devil Baseball celebrate its great lineage of former players, coaches and staff members involved in professional baseball for the coming season.
In total, there are 34 with Sun Devils ties that will be associated with Major League Baseball this season, including five active players, four coaches and 25 involved in the front office and scouting departments. The list will continue to grow with the onset of the Minor League Season in May.
Five former Sun Devils will find themselves on Opening Day rosters, including World Series Champion Austin Barnes for the Dodgers, Kole Calhoun and Merrill Kelly for the Diamondbacks, and Eric Sogard and Trevor Williams for the Cubs.
Sun Devil Baseball has as rich of a MLB history as any club in the nation, leading the NCAA with 111 former players that have played at the highest stage of professional baseball.
Additionally, four with Sun Devil ties find themselves on Major League coaching staffs this year in former ASU head coach Pat Murphy (Brewers bench coach) and former players Jacob Cruz (Brewers assistant hitting coach), Dave Hudgens (Blue Jays bench coach) and Don Wakamatsu (Rangers bench coach).
There are 25 former players and coaches tied with the MLB offices, club front offices and scouting departments, including the likes of Barry Bonds (Giants Executive Office), Willie Bloomquist (Diamondbacks Executive Office), Rick Monday (Dodgers Broadcasting), Eddie Bane (Mets Scouting) and Cory Hahn (Diamondbacks Scouting).
Additionally, numerous former Sun Devil players, coaches and staff are associated with college coaching and administrations this year with 18 serving in numerous roles.
There are also four former Sun Devils working for player agencies.
| 2021 MLB OPENING DAY ROSTERS | ||||
| Player (5) | Years at ASU | Level | Team | |
| Austin Barnes - C | 2009-2011 | MLB | Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Kole Calhoun - OF | 2009-2010 | MLB | Arizona Diamondbacks* | |
| Merrill Kelly - RHP | 2010 | MLB | Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Eric Sogard - INF | 2005-2007 | MLB | Chicago Cubs | |
| Trevor Williams - RHP | 2011-2013 | MLB | Chicago Cubs | |
| Coach (4) | ||||
| Jacob Cruz | 1992-1994 | MLB | Milwaukee Brewers | Assistant Hitting Coach |
| Dave Hudgens | 1975-1978 | MLB | Toronto Blue Jays | Bench Coach |
| Pat Murphy | 1995-2009 | MLB | Milwaukee Brewers | Bench Coach |
| Don Wakamatsu | 1982-1985 | MLB | Texas Rangers | Bench Coach |
| PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL (25) | ||||
| Name | Years at ASU | Club / Role | ||
| Eddie Bane^ | 1971-1973 | New York Mets / Scouting | ||
| Jaymie Bane | 1997 | New York Mets / Scouting | ||
| Willie Bloomquist | 1997-1999 | Arizona Diamondbacks / Executive Office | ||
| Barry Bonds | 1983-1985 | San Francisco Giants / Executive Office | ||
| Travis Buck | 2003-2005 | MLB / Partner League Coach | ||
| Kendall Carter^ | 1981-1984 | New York Yankees / Scouting | ||
| Chris Duffy | 2001 | Philadelphia Phillies / Scouting | ||
| Scott Goldby* | 1991-1992 | Miami Marlins / Scouting | ||
| Cory Hahn | 2011 | Arizona Diamondbacks / Scouting | ||
| RJ Harrison | 1973-1975 | Tampa Bay Rays / Scouting | ||
| Doug Henry | 1983-1985 | Kansas City Royals / Player Development | ||
| Kris Kline* | 1987 | Washington Nationals / Scouting | ||
| Steve Kmetko* | 1991-1992 | New York Yankees / Scouting | ||
| Ken Landreaux | 1974-1976 | MLB / Urban Youth Academy | ||
| Joey Lothrop* | 2015-2017 | Detroit Tigers / Scouting | ||
| Pat Listach | 1988 | Acereros de Monclova (Mexico) / Manager | ||
| Louie Medina | 1984-1985 | Kansas City Royals / Player Personnel | ||
| Rick Monday | 1965 | Los Angeles Dodgers / Broadcasting | ||
| Jeff Mousser^ | 2004 | Arizona Diamondbacks / Scouting | ||
| Bill Schmidt* | 1985 | Colorado Rockies / Scouting | ||
| Josh Spence | 2009 | MLB / Australian Baseball League Coach | ||
| Todd Steverson | 1990-1992 | Chicago White Sox / Scouting | ||
| Turtle Thomas* | 2007 | Texas Rangers / Player Development | ||
| Jeff Urlaub | 2006-2007 | Oakland Athletics / Scouting | ||
| Ric Wilson | 1981 | Los Angeles Angels / Scouting | ||
| COLLEGE COACHING / ADMINISTRATION (18) | ||||
| Name | Years at ASU | College or University | ||
| Jordan Aboites | 2013-2016 | Cypress College (Assistant Coach) | ||
| Rudy Arguelles | 1997-1998 | Riverside City College (Head Coach) | ||
| Randy Betten | 1994-1995 | Cal Poly Pomona (Head Coach) | ||
| Nate Causey | 2012-2014 | University of New Mexico (Assistant Coach) | ||
| Jeff Duncan | 1999-2000 | Kent State University (Head Coach) | ||
| Nino Giarratano* | 1997-1998 | University of San Francisco (Head Coach) | ||
| Kevin Higgins | 1988-1989 | UNLV (Assistant Coach) | ||
| Josh Holliday* | 2008-2009 | Oklahoma State University (Head Coach) | ||
| Travis Jewett* | 2010-2012 | Tulane University (Head Coach) | ||
| Bill Kinneberg* | 1992-1994 | University of Utah (Head Coach) | ||
| Robbie McClellan | 2002-2003 | New Jersey Institute of Technology (Head Coach) | ||
| John Pawlowski* | 1999 | Western Kentucky University (Head Coach) | ||
| Graham Rossini* | 2000-2007 | Arizona State University (Sr. Associate Athletic Director) | ||
| Doug Schreiber* | 1995-1998 | Purdue University Fort Wayne (Head Coach) | ||
| Andy Stankiewicz* | 2007-2009 | Grand Canyon University (Head Coach) | ||
| Eric Valenzuela | 1997 | Long Beach State University (Head Coach) | ||
| Jason Verdugo | 1994-1997 | Hamline University (Associate VP & Athletic Director) | ||
| Jon Wente | 1996 | Grand Canyon University (Pitching Coach) | ||
| PLAYER AGENTS (4) | ||||
| Name | Years at ASU | Company | ||
| Joe Brennan* | 1997-2001 | Legacy Sports Management | ||
| Brian Hannaford* | 2010-2013 | ALIGND Sports Agency | ||
| Jim Lentine | 1973-1974 | Paragon Sports International | ||
| Dennis Wyrick | 2000-2003 | Rosenhaus Sports Representation | ||
| *coach or staff member at ASU | ||||
| ^both played and coached at ASU (years listed as player) | ||||