25 NECBL alumni were on Opening Day Major League 25-man rosters. The San Diego Padres lead the charge with four NECBL products- pitchers Tim Stauffer and Joe Thatcher, infielder Andy Parrino and outfielder Chris Denorfia.
 
The 25 players are scattered over 16 Major League teams. Each of the six divisions includes at least one alumnus.
 
Six other teams will also suit up with multiple alumni- the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants field two NECBL products each.
 
Five of the alumni- Andrew Bailey, Joe Nathan, Andre Ethier, Brian Wilson and Matt Joyce- have combined to make 12 Major League All-Star Game appearances. A sixth, Stephen Strasburg, is predicted by many pundits to make the 2012 Mid-Summer Classic.
 
For Parrino, Chicago Cub first baseman Bryan LaHair, Giant pitcher Danny Otero, Astro teammates pitcher David Carpenter and outfielder Brian Bogusevic and National infielder Stephen Lombardozzi, the selections mark the first time that they have have broken with a Big League club on Opening Day.
 
The numbers validate the NECBL's position as a launching point for some of the best baseball talent in America. Nine of the ten NECBL teams or their forbearers have produced a current active Major Leager. Over 75 participants in the NECBL have played in the Major Leagues.
 
The data is as of the evening of April 4th:
 
Alumni on an Active Roster, including those on the Disabled List:
 
Pos    Name                        MLB Team     NECBL Yr  NECBL Team
OF     Andre Ethier            L.A. Dodgers      2001       Keene Swamp Bats
P        Andrew Bailey        Boston                 2004       Lowell All-Americans
INF   Andy Parrino            San Diego           2005      Manchester Silkworms
C       Bobby Wilson          L.A. Angels        2002      N. Adams SteepleCats
OF     Brian Bogusevic     Houston              2003       Danbury Westerners
P        Brian Wilson           San Francisco     2001       Keene Swamp Bats
INF    Bryan LaHair           Chicago Cubs   2002       Keene Swamp Bats
OF     Chris Denorfia         San Diego     2000-01      Manchester Silkworms
C       Chris Iannetta          L.A. Angels        2003       Newport Gulls
P       Craig Breslow          Arizona               1999       Middletown Giants
P       Danny Otero             San Francisco    2005       Newport Gulls
P       David Carpenter      Houston              2005       Vermont Mountaineers
P       Graham Godfrey      Oakland              2004       Manchester Silkworms
P       Jason Motte              St. Louis             2002       Sanford Mainers
INF   Jeff Keppinger         Tampa                 1999       Keene Swamp Bats
P       Joe Nathan                Texas                  1994       Fairfield Stallions
P       Joe Smith                  Cleveland           2004      N. Adams SteepleCats
P       Joe Thatcher             San Diego           2001      Danbury Westerners
DH   Matt Joyce                Tampa Bay         2004      Danbury Westerners
P       Mitchell Boggs       St. Louis              2004      Newport Gulls
OF    Rajai Davis              Toronto                2001     Middletown Giants
C      Ryan Hanigan          Cincinnati           2001     Lowell All-Americans
INF  Steve Lombardozzi Washington         2008    Holyoke Blue Sox
P       Stephen Strasburg   Washington        2007     Torrington Twisters
P       Tim Stauffer             San Diego            2001     Keene Swamp Bats
 
 
 
 
About New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states.  Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the NECBL started play in 1994 and has sent over 75 alumni to the Major Leagues.