Tag: Matt Vierling

Former Notre Dame players currently in Major League Baseball

Who was your favorite at Notre Dame?

As the sun has finally decided to start to come out across the midwest this spring it finally is starting to feel like baseball season, even if the big leaguers have been underway for a solid month now.

Notre Dame is in the middle of another successful campaign under head coach Link Jarrett that should see them reach the NCAA Tournament again after being one win away from a College World Series appearance last season.

What about the Notre Dame baseball stars of yesterday though?  How many might you find if you’re flipping around and stumble into MLB Network or a random baseball game this summer?

Here are the six former Notre Dame baseball players currently on Major League Baseball rosters.

Notre Dame’s Jack Brannigan Named Freshman All-American

Although Notre Dame was limited to only 13 games during the 2020 season, that was enough for Jack Brannigan to show he’s arrived.

Although Notre Dame was limited to only 13 games during the 2020 season, that was enough for Jack Brannigan to show he’s arrived. The Orland Park, Illinois, native is one of three multi-position players to be named a 2020 Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball. He’s the first Notre Dame player to earn this honor since Matt Vierling, now a Philadelphia Phillies prospect, in 2016.

Brannigan was one of three players to start every game for the Irish, the others being Zach Prajzner and Niko Kavades. He hit .255, had three doubles, one triple and home run apiece and drove in 11 runs. He also stole three bases. As a relief pitcher in four games, he had a 1.93 ERA and earned his first win March 7 against North Carolina.

There’s no telling how much more success Brannigan would have had if COVID-19 hadn’t stopped the season. Still, all signs point to him having a nice career for the Irish. He’ll be back, and we’ll be watching.