MLB Opening Day
- Updated: March 31, 2023
With the Major League Baseball season opening today, there are six Kelowna Falcon alumni on opening day rosters. The six players are the second most representatives among teams in the West Coast League.
Only the Corvallis Knights have more alumni on Major League rosters then the Falcons and they have eight.
James Paxton (Boston Red Sox) was a workhorse for the Falcons in 2007 fanning 62 batters over 70.1 innings that summer making 11 appearances and finished with a 2.74 ERA.
Phil Maton won a World Series last year with the Houston Astros after throwing for the Falcons in 2012 making 11 appearances while striking out 42 batters in 39.1 innings.
Connor Joe was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason, but has already made an impact. He had just graduated high school before joining in the Falcons in 2011. He hit .273 and had six RBIs that summer.
Andre Jackson (pictured) is back on the LA Dodgers pitching staff this season. As a pitcher for the Falcons in 2015 he saw limited action on the bump making seven appearances, all in a relief effort, striking out 12 in 7.2 innings and recorded two saves. At the plate he had 99 at bats with a .263 average, two homeruns and 20 RBIs.
Ryan Tepera (LA Angels) was a big part of the Falcons bullpen in 2009 making several appearances before getting drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Wyatt Mills (Boston Red Sox) pitched for the Falcons in 2014 after his freshman season at Gonzaga. He finished 2-2 with a 5.26 ERA and struck out 24 over the course of 25.2 innings.
In total there are 40 players on Major League opening day rosters with West Coast League experience. The Falcons new season opens on June 2nd in Portland before the home opener on June 6th.
Related Posts
Sponsors
