College baseball is an essential part of the developmental pipeline for Major League Baseball (MLB) players. For many players, college baseball provides a platform to showcase their skills and improve their game before they enter the professional ranks. Despite the popularity of high school prospects, many MLB players began their careers in college.
This article shows you professional baseball and highlights the journeys of some of the most talented MLB players who started their careers in college.
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw is one of the most dominant pitchers in recent history. He played college baseball at Highland Park High School and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2006. The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Kershaw in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2008. He has since won three Cy Young Awards and was named an All-Star eight times.
Buster Posey
Buster Posey played college baseball at Florida State University, where he was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2009. Posey has since won three World Series championships and has been named an All-Star seven times.
Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole played college baseball at the University of California. There he was named the Pac-10 Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2010. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2013. Cole has since been named an All-Star three times and has finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting twice.
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Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer played college baseball at the University of Missouri, where he was named a First-Team All-American in 2006. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2008. Scherzer has since won three Cy Young Awards and has been named an All-Star eight times.
Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant played college baseball at the University of San Diego. There he was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2013. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2015. Bryant has been named an All-Star four times and won the National League MVP award once.
Barry Larkin
Barry Larkin is one of the greatest shortstops in MLB history. He got his start playing college baseball at the University of Michigan. He was drafted fourth overall by the Cincinnati Reds in 1985 and went on to play 19 seasons with the team. Larkin was a 12-time All-Star and a nine-time Silver Slugger, and he won the National League MVP award in 1995.
Mike Mussina
Mike Mussina played college baseball at Stanford University before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1990. He had a successful 18-year career, pitching for the Orioles and the New York Yankees. Mussina was a five-time All-Star and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. He and he finished his career with a 3.68 ERA and 2,813 strikeouts.
Fred Lynn
Fred Lynn played college baseball at the University of Southern California before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1973. He won the title “Of American League Rookie” of the Year in 1975 and played 17 seasons in the majors. Lynn was a nine-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner. He won the American League MVP award in 1975.
Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira played college baseball at Georgia Tech before being drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2001. He played for five teams during his 14-year career, and he was a three-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove winner, and three Silver Slugger awards. Teixeira finished his career with 409 home runs and a .268 batting average.
Dustin Pedroia
Dustin Pedroia played college baseball at Arizona State University before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2004. He played for the Red Sox for 14 seasons, winning two World Series championships and four All-Star selections. Pedroia was also the American League MVP in 2008.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these top 10 MLB players who started their careers in college have proven that there are many paths to success in professional baseball. While some players may choose to bypass college and enter the minor leagues directly, others have found success by honing their skills at the college level before being drafted by MLB teams. These players demonstrate that combining talent, hard work, and opportunity can lead to outstanding sports achievements. As the game continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see which future players follow in their footsteps and make their mark in the MLB after starting their careers in college.
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