Mountaineers in MLB: Gyorko, McBroom, Means Play Out Shortened Season

Despite a shortened, unusual MLB season, the West Virginia University was well-represented with six former Mountaineers making major league player-pools.

Of those six Mountaineers, three took the field on the game’s highest stage.

Jedd Gyorko, 1B/3B, Milwaukee Brewers

Gyorko enjoyed a bounce-back season this year with the Milwaukee Brewers. After batting .174 with just two home runs and nine RBI in 62 games 2019, the Morgantown native hit .248 with nine homers and 17 RBI in 42 games this season. His .838 OPS was a career-best and led the Brewers. In his eighth major league season, Gyorko also hit three doubles and scored 19 runs. He started 26 games at first base, eight at third and one at designated hitter.

Gyorko was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Jedd Gyorko garnered 10 All-America baseball honors during his outstanding career from 2008-10, and has since enjoyed an eight-year MLB career.

The Morgantown native started 168 games, collecting 281 hits in 696 at-bats (.404) and was WVU's first Brooks Wallace Award winner. https://t.co/nV0SffXV84 pic.twitter.com/ri0SCem7Vy

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) September 5, 2020

Ryan McBroom, 1B/OF, Kansas City Royals

In his second year in the majors, McBroom played in a career-high 36 games with 81 at-bats. He hit .247 with six home runs and 10 RBI. He also hit three doubles and scored eight runs. He started nine games at first base, eight as a designated hitter and four in the outfield. McBroom pinch hit 17 times, collecting five hits including three pinch-hit home runs, which set a new Royals single-season record.

Great way to finish the year for Broom! https://t.co/q5nXOvXSfo

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) September 27, 2020

John Means, LHP, Baltimore Orioles

The 2019 All-Star started 10 games for the Orioles, going 2-4 with a 4.53 ERA. In 43.2 innings, he stuck out 42 batters and allowed just seven walks. In his final four starts, Means allowed just four earned runs in 23.2 innings, striking out 30 batters. He has a career performance on Sept. 20, striking out 12 Tampa Bay Rays in 5.2 innings.

John Means, 7 Consecutive Ks. pic.twitter.com/473c8UhbPU

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 20, 2020

The following players were in their respective clubs’ 60-player pool but spent the entire season at their alternate training sites:

David Carpenter, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Michael Grove, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays