University of North Carolina Athletics
Eight Tar Heels Open 2019 On MLB Rosters
March 28, 2019 | Baseball
Eight former Tar Heels will open the 2019 season on MLB rosters, including former pitcher Trent Thornton, who made the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation. There is also a large Diamond Heels contingent starting the year in the minor leagues, including nine 2018 MLB Draft picks from last year's Diamond Heels College World Series team. Overall, sixty-six Tar Heels have appeared at the Major League level dating back to Bob Lawson, who spent two seasons with Boston and Baltimore in 1901 and 1902.
A full list of Tar Heels kicking off their seasons in pro ball is below, and we will continue to update the minor league list as as teams and divisions are announced.
Major League Baseball
Chris Iannetta: Colorado Rockies
Iannetta enters the season with the Rockies after hitting .224 in his first year in Colorado. He hit 11 home runs and drove in 36 RBI on the season. The 35-year-old catcher looks to continue to play a defensive role behind the dish while helping the Rockies staff in his 14th year in the major leagues.
Andrew Miller: St. Louis Cardinals
Miller joins a new team after several strong seasons with Cleveland. Following a 2018 year filled with injuries with the Indians, the former Tar Heel standout looks to play a key role in the back end of the Cardinals bullpen. Also entering his 14th year in the bigs, Miller still looks to be one of the top arms across the league.
Colin Moran: Pittsburgh Pirates
Moran broke out last year with the Pirates, hitting .277 in 144 games at the hot corner in Pittsburgh. After a full spring training, he'll begin the year as one of the biggest threats in the Pirates lineup. The 2013 first-round pick is looked upon as one of the strongest young bats poised to have a breakout campaign.
Kyle Seager: Seattle Mariners
Seager, 31, is out until June with a hand injury. He expects to slot in at third base in Seattle when he does return.
Adam Warren: San Diego Padres
Warren has bounced around a bit in the past several seasons (seeing time with the Cubs, Yankees and Mariners), but looks to find his home with the Padres this season. The 31-year-old is primed to see a good bit of work out of the bullpen after signing a one-year deal over the offseason.
Matt Harvey: Los Angeles Angels
After finishing the 2018 season with the Cincinnati Reds, Harvey signed a one-year deal with the Angels in December. The National League Comeback Player of the Year looks to regain his All-Star form in Los Angeles.
Trent Thornton: Toronto Blue Jays
Acquired from the Houston Astros in the offseason, 25-year-old Thornton will be making his major league debut as part of the weekend rotation for the Blue Jays in the first weekend of the season. After spending four years in the minor leagues, the right-hander will look to become a major impact in Toronto this season.
Jacob Stallings: Pittsburgh Pirates
Stallings has spent part of the last three season with the Pirates with 24 games during that span. Last season, he spent a career high 14 games with the Pirates including the game-winning RBI single in the Pirates 7-6 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Minor League Baseball (Organization)
Aj Bogucki: Washington Nationals
Skye Bolt: Oakland Athletics
JB Bukauskas: Houston Astros
Kent Emanuel: Houston Astros
Tim Federowicz: Cleveland Indians
Zac Gallen: Miami Marlins
Reilly Hovis: Miami Marlins
Trevor Kelley: Boston Red Sox
Levi Michael: San Francisco Giants
Brian Miller: Miami Marlins
Brian Moran: Miami Marlins
Mike Morin: Minnesota Twins
Benton Moss: Tampa Bay Rays
R.C. Orlan: Cleveland Indians
Tyler Ramirez: Oakland Athletics
Michael Russell: Tampa Bay Rays
Logan Warmoth: Toronto Blue Jays
Rob Wooten: Cincinnati Reds
Rodney Hutchison: New York Yankees
Cody Roberts: Baltimore Orioles
Kyle Datres: Colorado Rockies
Cooper Criswell: Los Angeles Angels
Brandon Riley: Los Angeles Angels
Josh Hiatt: Toronto Blue Jays
Brett Daniels: Houston Astros
Jason Morgan: Chicago White Sox
Zack Gahagan: St. Louis Cardinals
