Indiana University Athletics
2026 MLB Opening Day Features Hoosier Greats
3/26/2026 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – As the 2026 MLB season gets fully underway on Thursday (March 26) afternoon, a collection of former Hoosiers will get their newest professional season started. Five former IU players – three on the active 26-man roster – were announced by their respective franchises on the Opening Day list. Two of the players played under head coach Jeff Mercer in Bloomington.
Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), left-handed pitchers Tim Herrin (Guardians) and Kyle Hart (Padres) and right-handed arms Craig Yoho (Brewers) and McCade Brown (Rockies) are set to begin the season with the big league club. Yoho and Brown are on the 15-day injured list to start the year but will impact the team when back to full health.
Schwarber, who played in the World Baseball Classic with Team USA, is set to start his 12th season in the MLB and his fifth with the Phillies. The veteran played in all 162 regular season games last year and has 340 home runs to his name at the big league level. Schwarber has hit at least 32 home runs in each of the last five campaigns.
Herrin is set for his fourth full season in the big leagues with the Guardians this year. He has made 129 appearances over last two year and has a career ERA of 3.57. Herrin has become one of the premier left-handed options out of Cleveland's bullpen and is once again set for a high-leverage role in 2026.
Hart returned to the big leagues in 2025 after a stint in Korea. He made 20 appearances last season with a collection of six starts. Hart is expected to rotate between a bullpen role and a potential stint as the team's fifth starter. Yoho and Brown both made their MLB debuts in 2025 and are back for an increased stint in the MLB this year.
MLB Opening Day Rosters – Indiana
DH Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
LHP Tim Herrin, Guardians
LHP Kyle Hart, Padres
RHP McCade Brown, Rockies (IL)
RHP Craig Yoho, Padres (IL)
Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), left-handed pitchers Tim Herrin (Guardians) and Kyle Hart (Padres) and right-handed arms Craig Yoho (Brewers) and McCade Brown (Rockies) are set to begin the season with the big league club. Yoho and Brown are on the 15-day injured list to start the year but will impact the team when back to full health.
Schwarber, who played in the World Baseball Classic with Team USA, is set to start his 12th season in the MLB and his fifth with the Phillies. The veteran played in all 162 regular season games last year and has 340 home runs to his name at the big league level. Schwarber has hit at least 32 home runs in each of the last five campaigns.
Herrin is set for his fourth full season in the big leagues with the Guardians this year. He has made 129 appearances over last two year and has a career ERA of 3.57. Herrin has become one of the premier left-handed options out of Cleveland's bullpen and is once again set for a high-leverage role in 2026.
Hart returned to the big leagues in 2025 after a stint in Korea. He made 20 appearances last season with a collection of six starts. Hart is expected to rotate between a bullpen role and a potential stint as the team's fifth starter. Yoho and Brown both made their MLB debuts in 2025 and are back for an increased stint in the MLB this year.
MLB Opening Day Rosters – Indiana
DH Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
LHP Tim Herrin, Guardians
LHP Kyle Hart, Padres
RHP McCade Brown, Rockies (IL)
RHP Craig Yoho, Padres (IL)
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