The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) is proud to feature 16 league alumni on Opening Day rosters for the 2024 MLB season. A trio of former PGCBL stars will lead the way for the Baltimore Orioles this season, a former Amsterdam Mohawk leads an AL Central team with lots of young talent, and lots of other players who kickstarted their careers in the PGCBL will look to shine across the big leagues this season.
Cedric Mullins (‘14 Utica/Baltimore Orioles)
Cedric Mullins was a 2014 member of the Utica Blue Sox before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2015. Now approaching his 7th season in the MLB, Mullins is expected to be a key piece in a Baltimore lineup that’s looking for its first back-to-back AL East title since the 1970s
John Means (‘12 Mohawk Valley/Baltimore Orioles)
The first Mohawk Valley alum to make an MLB team, John Means burst on the season when he tossed a no-hitter for the Orioles back in 2021. After missing most of last season rehabbing from Tommy John, the former Diamond Dawg will look to piece together a stellar season on the Baltimore staff.
Jordan Westburg (‘18 Elmira/Baltimore Orioles)
A 2018 PGCBL All-Star, Jordan Westburg made a name for himself in Elmira two short years before being selected as the 30th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. After being called up in June 2023, Westburg will get a chance to make an impact in his first full season in the bigs.
Matt Quatraro (‘93 Amsterdam/Kansas City Royals)
Matt Quatraro took the helm as Manager of the Kansas City Royals last season, exactly 30 years after he was a catcher for the Amsterdam Mohawks. The Selkirk, NY native will look to right the ship with a plethora of young talent on the 2024 Royals roster.
Ernie Clement (‘14 Albany/Toronto Blue Jays)
Coming to Albany ahead of his freshman season at the University of Virginia, Ernie Clement took a leap forward in developing his craft with his time in the PGCBL. After batting .361 in Spring Training for the Blue Jays, Clement will look to keep his success going into the Regular Season.
Nick Pivetta (‘12 Glens Falls/Boston Red Sox)
A 2012 member of the Glens Falls Dragons, Nick Pivetta was drafted in the 4th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Now heading into his 8th MLB season, Pivetta posted a career best 4.04 ERA as a mainstay of the Red Sox starting rotation.
Ramon Laureano (‘13 Glens Falls/Cleveland Guardians)
A standout on the 2013 Glens Falls Dragons, Ramon Laureano has made a name for himself since his MLB debut in 2018 for his flashy defense. Laureano will bring his strong defensive presence to the Opening Day roster this year in Cleveland.
Matt Thaiss (‘13 Watertown/Los Angeles Angels)
Summer of 2013 marked the time that Matt Thaiss had to make the leap from high school to college baseball before his freshman year at Virginia, and he found his adjustments in Watertown. Starting a career high 95 games in 2023, Thaiss will look to continue to add a presence to the Angels lineup.
Ryan Yarbrough (‘11 Utica/Los Angeles Dodgers)
Ryan Yarbrough was a standout in his time with Utica, posting a 2.30 ERA in 2011. After five seasons with Tampa Bay, Yarbrough joined the Dodgers midway through the 2023 season, and will look to establish himself as a mainstay in 2024.
Luke Maile (‘10 & ‘11 Amsterdam/Cincinnati Reds)
An All-PGCBL player in 2011, Luke Maile mashed a then PGCBL record eight home runs before being selected in the 2012 MLB Draft. After an outstanding Spring Training to the tune of a .375 average and four home runs in 32 at bats, Maile will look to produce for the Reds in 2024.
Mark Leiter Jr. (‘11 & ‘12 Amsterdam/Chicago Cubs)
After two summers in Amsterdam, Mark Leiter Jr. holds the Mohawks all-time strikeout record with 127 punchouts. Leiter saw success out of the Cubs bullpen in 2023 to the tune of a 3.99 ERA through 35 appearances.
Louie Varland (‘17 Utica/Minnesota Twins)
Louie Varland pitched in Utica for the 2017 season shortly before being drafted by Minnesota in 2019. Now making his first Opening Day roster, Varland will try to impact the Twins over the course of a full season.
Sean Hjelle (‘16 Elmira/San Francisco Giants)
Sean Hjelle posted one of the greatest PGCBL Playoffs outings ever, throwing nine shutout innings against Utica. After working 15 games out of the bullpen in 2023 for San Francisco, Hjelle is expected to be a mainstay arm in the Bay Area.
Tom Murphy (‘10 Oneonta/San Francisco Giants)
The 2011 MAC Player of the Year at Buffalo in 2011, Tom Murphy spent the summer prior tuning up in Oneonta. Murphy spent time with the Rockies and Mariners, and now heads into his first year with the Giants.
Tayler Saucedo (‘12 Glens Falls/Seattle Mariners)
Ringing up 45 batters over 42.2 innings with Glens Falls, Tayler Saucedo found lots of success at East Field. Saucedo posted a solid 2023 with Seattle, finishing with a 3.59 ERA in 52 games.
Tim Herrin (‘16 Amsterdam/Cleveland Guardians)
A member of the 2016 Mohawks championship squad, Herrin faced four batters and struck them all out in his MLB debut in 2023.