The 2019 MLB season is officially underway, with most teams having played four to five games so far. Let’s take a look at where some former NC State baseball players are playing professionally, as well as look at how each performed in spring training.

Trea Turner, Shortstop, Washington Nationals

Turner has come out of the gates on fire for the Nationals through the team’s first three games. Turner is hitting a .385/.429/.923 line, which is a pretty stark difference from his .271/.344/.416 of last year. Turner will likely regress some as the season continues, and three games is a small sample size, but the National’s only win this season came off the heels of Turner’s walk-off home run.

Carlos Rodon, Pitcher, Chicago White Sox

Rodon has started one game this season as the opening day starter for the White Sox. Rodon allowed three of the five totals runs scored by the Kansas City Royals in that game.

Andrew Knizner, Catcher/First Baseman, Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)

Knizner is rated as the second-best prospect in the Cardinals system and has impressed with his play in the minors as well as spring training. Knizner posted a .286/.310/.500 slash line in his 18 spring training games, which included 28 at-bats.

Knizner also scored five runs on eight hits to go along with eight RBIs and one home run. The former NC State catcher will be rewarded for his strong play, as he is starting the season in AAA minors as opposed to AA, where he spent most of last season. Knizner will almost certainly find his way onto the Cardinals 40-man roster at some point this season, it is just a matter of time.

Evan Mendoza, Infielder, Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)

Mendoza will join fellow NC State product Knizner on the Redbirds to begin the season, and is rated as the 30th-best prospect in the Cardinals farm system. Mendoza slashed .261/.292/.348 in spring training with the Cardinals, and scored three runs on six hits in 23 at-bats.

Jake Buchanan, Pitcher, Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland A’s)

In November, Buchanan was signed as a free agent to a minor league contract with the Oakland A’s. Buchanan spent spring training with the A’s, and played in two games with the club. Buchanan had a 3.86 ERA in the spring. Buchanan will start off the season on the Las Vegas Aviators, the AAA affiliate of the Athletics.

Brock Deatherage, Outfielder, Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)

Deatherage has moved up in the minor league rankings of the Tigers, joining their single-A advanced affiliate, the Flying Tigers, after a phenomenal first season in the organization. Deatherage played for the Tigers in spring training, having five at-bats, one run and one stolen base.

Brian Brown, Pitcher, Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox)

Brown will begin the season on the single-A Lowell Spinners, an affiliate of the Red Sox. Brown is a recent winner of ACC Pitcher of the Year, and has an opportunity to move up in the farm system of the 2018 MLB champions.

Brett Kinneman, Outfielder, West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kinneman, the seventh-round selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, hit a .333/.500/.333 line in spring training, where he played three games for the Pirates. Kinneman scored a run and struck out once in spring training. Kinneman will start the season on the single-A affiliate of the Pirates, the West Virginia Black Bears.

Joe Dunand, Shortstop, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami Marlins)

Dunand did not see much action in spring training with the Marlins, and had only three at-bats with no hits. Dunand will begin the season with the Jumbo Shrimp, the AA affiliate of the Marlins.

Jon Olczak, Pitcher, San Antonio Missions (Milwaukee Brewers)

Olczak had a successful spring training despite limited appearances. Olczak appeared in three games, finishing one of them. Olczak finished with a 9.00 ERA, which is inflated due to his mere four innings pitched, but still shows signs of success. Olczak also had a fantastic seven strikeouts. Because of this, Olczak will begin the season on the AAA affiliate of the Brewers, the Missions, as opposed to the AA affiliate of the Brewers, where he spent much of last season.

Jack Conley, Catcher, GCL Phillies East (Philadelphia Phillies)

Conley did not see much movement in the Phillies minor leagues, as he will stay with the GCL Phillies to begin the season once more, but played greatly in his first season in the rookie leagues, and will look to build on that success.

Cody Beckman, Pitcher, Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers)

Beckman finished two games with the Brewers in spring training, posting an inflated 6.75 ERA against five batters faced. Beckman allowed two runs and will begin the season with the single-A advanced minor league affiliate of the Brewers, the Mudcats, located in Zebulon, North Carolina.

Tommy DeJuneas, Pitcher, Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros)

DeJuneas was traded to the Astros system in July in exchange for pitcher James Hoyt. DeJuneas will play close to his alma mater for the single-A advanced affiliate, the Fayetteville Woodpeckers.

Other baseball Pack Pros:

Preston Palmeiro, Infielder, Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles)

Tim Naughton, Pitcher, Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles)

Josh McLain, Outfielder, AZL Dodgers 1 (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Will Gilbert, Pitcher, Stockton Ports (Oakland A’s)

Ryan Williamson, Pitcher, GCL Nationals (Washington Nationals)

Pack Pros that were released in the offseason or last season:

Cory Mazzoni, Pitcher

Brett Austin, Catcher

Chris Diaz, Shortstop

Andy Cosgrove, Catcher

Logan Ratledge, Infielder/Outfielder