Photo by: Brad Penner | USA TODAY Sports
Four Former Cardinals Make MLB Opening Day Rosters
March 28, 2019 | Baseball
Nick Burdi, Adam Engel, Chad Green and Matt Koch each made the roster for their respective clubs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Major League Baseball season opened up on Thursday and four former Louisville baseball players were on Opening Day rosters.
Nick Burdi (Pittsburgh Pirates), Adam Engle (Chicago White Sox), Chad Green (New York Yankees) and Matt Koch (Arizona Diamondbacks) were each on the roster to start the 2019 season.
A second round pick in 2014, Burdi made his Major League debut last September for the Pirates, pitching in a pair of games in the regular season's final month. The Cardinals' all-time leader in saves, Burdi will be in the Pirates bullpen as they open up the season at Cincinnati.
Engel was taken in the 19th round of the 2013 draft and has played in 240 games since making his debut in May of 2017. The outfielder had 101 hits in 143 games last season, tallying 17 doubles, six home runs and scoring 49 runs.
An integral part of the Yankees bullpen over the last two seasons, Green is on the Opening Day roster for the second straight season. The righthander is 15-7 over three big league seasons, including an 8-3 mark with a 2.50 ERA in 2018.
Koch spent much of the 2018 season as a starter with the Diamondbacks, but will open 2019 in the Arizona Bullpen. A third round selection in the 2012 draft, Koch was 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 19 appearances last season.
Since the hiring of head coach Dan McDonnell prior to the 2007 season, 64 Louisville players have signed professional contracts after being selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including a school-record nine Cardinals in 2010.
Nick Burdi (Pittsburgh Pirates), Adam Engle (Chicago White Sox), Chad Green (New York Yankees) and Matt Koch (Arizona Diamondbacks) were each on the roster to start the 2019 season.
A second round pick in 2014, Burdi made his Major League debut last September for the Pirates, pitching in a pair of games in the regular season's final month. The Cardinals' all-time leader in saves, Burdi will be in the Pirates bullpen as they open up the season at Cincinnati.
Engel was taken in the 19th round of the 2013 draft and has played in 240 games since making his debut in May of 2017. The outfielder had 101 hits in 143 games last season, tallying 17 doubles, six home runs and scoring 49 runs.
An integral part of the Yankees bullpen over the last two seasons, Green is on the Opening Day roster for the second straight season. The righthander is 15-7 over three big league seasons, including an 8-3 mark with a 2.50 ERA in 2018.
Koch spent much of the 2018 season as a starter with the Diamondbacks, but will open 2019 in the Arizona Bullpen. A third round selection in the 2012 draft, Koch was 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 19 appearances last season.
Since the hiring of head coach Dan McDonnell prior to the 2007 season, 64 Louisville players have signed professional contracts after being selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including a school-record nine Cardinals in 2010.
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