Former Seminoles in the Majors: Opening Week

This season, six former Seminole Baseball players were named to opening rosters on Major League teams, all of whom participated in at least one game during the course of the first week of the season and two of whom made their MLB debuts. How did all the former Florida State Baseball players do in the opening week of the season?

Mar 31, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis (77) hits a single to center field during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Florida Auto Exchange Park. The Blue Jays won 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Devon Travis (Second Baseman, Toronto Blue Jays)

Travis, one of the two players who made their MLB debut this week, was not projected to make the opening day roster for the Blue Jays. He ended last season in Double-A and entered spring training as a longshot at best. However, Travis posted gaudy numbers during spring training, batting .359 with 6 doubles, 7 RBIs, 6 runs, and an OPS of .853. Due to those numbers, Travis skipped Triple-A entirely and jumped right to the Majors, where he was named the starting second baseman. In his first week, Travis started every game, batting .250 with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs. He also accomplished what so many players can only dream of, homering in his Major League debut on opening day at Yankee Stadium.

Mar 25, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Gilmartin (36) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Gilmartin (Relief Pitcher, New York Mets)

Gilmartin is the second former Seminole who made his Major League debut in the first week of this season. Coming out of the bullpen, Gilmartin made a pair of appearances for the Mets in their weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. In his first appearance, Gilmartin was brought in to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning for the Mets with the score tied 3-3. He retired both batters he faced, forcing a groundout by Nick Markakis and striking out Braves slugger Freddie Freeman. In his second appearance of the weekend, which came on Saturday, Gilmartin again appeared in the seventh inning but remained in the game longer, facing 5 batters and retiring them all. For the week, Gilmartin went 2 1/3 innings and allowed no runs on no hits while striking out 3 of the 7 batters he faced.

Apr 10, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) singles during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Buster Posey (Catcher, San Francisco Giants)

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Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Posey is the most notable Seminole currently in professional baseball. Now in his seventh season with the Giants, Posey is a 3-time World Series champion as well as the 2012 NL MVP. This season, Posey is off to his usual start as a slugger, with 2 home runs in the first 6 games for the Giants. He also has a batting average of .292, 4 RBIs, 3 runs, and 6 walks compared to just 2 strikeouts.

Mar 23, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder Shane Robinson (21) at bat during the eighth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Robinson (Right Fielder, Minnesota Twins)

Robinson, now in his seventh season in the Majors, is used as a pinch hitter/pinch runner for the Twins, as well as an occasional starter. In the first week of the 2015 season, Robinson appeared in 4 games, including 1 start. So far, he has struggled a bit offensively, batting .143 with 1 RBI and a pair of runs. His most dangerous asset is his speed, which he utilized this week as a pinch runner coming around to score in Friday’s 6-0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Mar 17, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Randy Choate (36) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Marlins 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Randy Choate (Relief Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals)

Choate, who will turn 40 years old in September of this year and is in his 16^th season in the pros, made a pair of appearances for the Cardinals in the first week of the season. In his first appearance on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, Choate entered the game in the eighth inning and faced just one batter, allowing a Joey Votto single, before he was replaced by Trevor Rosenthal, who worked out of the inning without allowing the runner to score. In Sunday’s win over the Reds, Choate again faced just one batter, walking Votto, before he was replaced by Matt Belisle, who allowed a pair of singles which brought Votto around to score. The run was credited to Choate as he put him on base and through his first 2 appearances this season, Choate has an infinite ERA as he has allowed a run while retiring no batters.

Apr 4, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew (14) hits two run home run during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Drew (Second Baseman, New York Yankees)