Nick Pivetta

The Major League Baseball season began on Thursday with six players with PGCBL connections on Opening Day rosters. Another three will join Major League teams upon coming off the disabled list. Dozens more will litter Minor League rosters, and will be profiled over the coming weeks.

Note: The Saratoga Phillies are a precursor to the Oneonta Outlaws, and the Little Falls Miners are a forerunner to the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. The Amsterdam Mohawks previously played in Schenectady, New York, while franchises in Glens Falls and Utica were previously known as the Golden Eagles and Brewers, respectively.

Ryan Yarbrough, Tampa Bay Rays (Utica Brewers 2011)- Yarbrough became the newest PGCBL franchise alumni to play in the Major Leagues, making his big league debut on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. In four innings on the mound, the lefthander allowed just one run and struck out three Red Sox hitters. Yarbrough pitched for Utica when the Brewers won a division title and the NABF College World Series in 2011.

Luke Maile, Toronto Blue Jays (Amsterdam 2010-2011)- In his first start of the 2018 season, Maile came up with a clutch hit for the Blue Jays in a win over the Yankees on Saturday. The catcher lined an RBI single to left field, giving the Jays a 3-2 lead in a game Toronto would go on to win 5-3. Maile is in his fourth season in Major League Baseball, and his second with Toronto.

Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants (Schenectady Mohawks 2002)- The three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion began his 12th season in the Major Leagues. In his first three games of the season, Pence hit .300 with a double and a pair of singles, which included two hits in an opening day victory over the Dodgers.

JD Martinez, Boston Red Sox (Saratoga Phillies 2008)- A former MLB All-Star and Silver Slugger winner, Martinez joined the Boston Red Sox in the offseason. In his first three games of the season, Martinez scored two runs and reached base four times. He went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double in a win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies (Glens Falls Golden Eagles 2012)- Pivetta's first start of the season was a no decision for the Phillies, which saw the righthander work four innings with three strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Pivetta is in his second season as a member of the Phillies' starting rotation after making 26 starts a season ago.

Carlos Asuaje, San Diego Padres (Oneonta 2011)- In his third season with the Padres, the former Outlaw recorded hits in each of the first two games of the season. Asuaje drove in a run on Saturday with a two-out double against the Brewers, and added a single in the first game of the season.

Additionally, the following three players will resume MLB careers following stints on the disabled list.

James Hoyt, Houston Astros (Little Falls Miners 2008)
Mark Leiter, Jr., Philadelphia Phillies (Amsterdam 2011-12)
Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers (Saratoga Phillies 2009)

If you know of a great performance by a former or future PGCBL player in college or professional baseball, please let us know! To see your favorite PGCBL player spotlighted on PGCBL.com, tweet us @PGCBLBaseball.