28 NECBL alumni, representing 18 different teams, made 2014 Opening Day Major League rosters.

No team had three alumni on their Opening Day roster but 10 did have two.

Every division in Major League baseball is represented by at least three alumni.  The National League West has the largest representation, with eight alumni and at least one graduate playing on all five teams.

99 NECBL graduates have made the Majors, including 47 who suited up in the Big Leagues in 2013.  Eleven NECBL graduates made their Major League debut last season, marking the third straight season where at least nine NECBL alumni have debuted.

Here are the 28 players, along with their NECBL ball club.  Rosters are as of 5:00 pm EST on March 30th.

Matt Adams 1B/ St. Louis Cardinals/ 2008 Pittsfield Dukes
David Carpenter RHP/ Atlanta Braves/ 2005 Vermont Mountaineers
Kevin Chapman LHP/ Houston Astros/ 2009 North Shore Navigators
Nick Christiani RHP/Cincinnati Reds/ 2006 Manchester Silkworms
Chris Colabello 1B/Minnesota Twins/ 2004 Lowell All-Americans
Rajai Davis OF/ Detroit Tigers/ 2001 Middletown Giants
Chris Denorfia OF/ San Diego Padres/ 2000-01 Manchester Silkworms
Andre Ethier OF/ Los Angeles Dodgers/ 2001 Keene Swamp Bats
Josh Fields RHP/ Houston Astros/ 2005 Keene Swamp Bats
Ryan Hanigan C/ Tampa Bay Rays/ 2001 Lowell All-Americans
Chris Iannetta C/ Los Angeles Angels/ 2003 Newport Gulls
Matt Joyce OF/ Tampa Bay Rays/ 2004 Danbury Westerners
Tom Koehler RHP/ Miami Marlins/ 2005 Keene Swamp Bats
Steve Lombardozzi 2B/ Baltimore Orioles/ 2008 Holyoke Blue Sox
Joe Nathan RHP/ Detroit Tigers/ 1994 Fairfield Stallions
Mike Olt 3B/ Chicago Cubs/ 2008 Danbury Westerners
Adam Ottavino RHP/Colorado Rockies/ 2004 Danbury Westerners
Dan Otero RHP/ Oakland Athletics/ 2005 Newport Gulls
A.J. Pollock OF/ Arizona Diamondbacks/ 2007 Vermont Mountaineers
Juan Perez OF/ San Francisco Giants/ 2008 Holyoke Blue Sox
Evan Scribner RHP/ Oakland Athletics/ 2005 North Adams SteepleCats
Kevin Slowey RHP/ Miami Marlins/ 2004 Sanford Mainers
Joe Smith RHP/ Los Angeles Angels/ 2004 North Adams SteepleCats
Stephen Strasburg RHP/Washington Nationals/ 2007 Torrington Twisters
Tim Stauffer RHP/San Diego Padres/ 2001 Keene Swamp Bats
Joe Thatcher LHP/ Arizona Diamondbacks/ 2001 Danbury Westerners
Brian Wilson RHP/ Los Angeles Dodgers/ 2001 Keene Swamp Bats
Alex Wood LHP/ Atlanta Braves/2010 Keene Swamp Bats

No NECBL alumni open the season on the Boston Red Sox 25-man roster, however 1999 Middletown Giant and 2013 NECBL Hall of Fame inductee Craig Breslow starts the year on the 15-day disabled list.  Two other alums, C Ryan Lavarnway (2007 Manchester) and OF Alex Hassan (2007 Pittsfield) are on Boston’s 40 man roster.

In addition, RHP Jason Motte (2002 Sanford) opens the season on the St. Louis Cardinals’ 15-day DL.  Motte was the closing pitcher in the Cardinals’ 2011 World Series win.  The White Sox also placed infielder Jeff Keppinger (Keene) on the 15 day DL to open the season.  Keppinger was the NECBL’s 1999 Defensive Player of the Year and the League’s Home Run Derby champion.