Even though basketball is highlighting the sports world this month, there is another sport that is planning to steal some of the spotlight, and that is the MLB. Today is the day all baseball fans have been waiting for as the MLB season kicks off for Opening Day for the 2025 season!
After about more than a month of spring training games, the players have made their way back to their home stadiums, or at least the stadiums of the games they will be playing for Opening Day.
Now, this is not just a great time for MLB fans but for college baseball fans as well, as they see if their favorite former players have made Opening Day rosters. For Indiana fans, while many Hoosiers have been drafted to the MLB, although none in the last two years, only three have made an Opening Day roster.
In the MLB, on Opening Day, teams can have only a 26-man active roster and a 40-man roster altogether, with players from the active roster and anyone who might have to start the season on the injured list. So, for a player to make an opening day roster is a big deal and something to be proud of.
Here are the three former Hoosiers who will see the field with their team on Opening Day.
Happy MLB Opening Day! ⚾️
— Indiana Baseball (@IndianaBase) March 27, 2025
Wishing best of luck to our #ProIU Hoosiers. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/q35WCvqhbI
Kyle Schwarber Philadelphia Phillies
Kyle Schwarber is probably one of the most well-known former Indiana players in the MLB as the star catcher/designated hitter is a two-time All-Star and won a World Series in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs.
Schwarber is starting his 11th season in the MLB, this one with the Philadelphia Phillies, who he joined back in 2022. Schwarber joined Indiana at ESPN's College Gameday in the 2024 season when the Hoosiers were hosting the Washington Huskies and was the guest picker. Schwarber played at Indiana from 2012 to 2014.
Kyle Hart San Diego Padres
Kyle Hart earned one of the final spots on the San Deigo Padres Opening Day roster, snatching one of the final pitching rotation spots as well. Hart was able to compete and win the spot for the rotation due to his strong play in Spring Training. Some injuries to other Padres pitchers left more spots to be filled on the Opening Day roster, and Hart took advantage of the opportunity.
Hart played for the Indiana Hoosiers from 2012 to 2016.
Tim Herrin Cleveland Guardians
The final former Hoosier to make an Opening Day roster is pitcher Tim Herrin, who is making the Cleveland Guardians pitching bullpen. Herrin struggled in 2023, but in 2024 had a breakout season that earned him a spot on the 2025 Opening Day roster after a solid spring training.
Herrin played for the Hoosiers from 2016 to 2018.