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First Coast, first pitch: See which Jacksonville-area stars are on MLB Opening Day rosters

Baseball time is officially here.

And for more than a dozen Major League Baseball players with Jacksonville-area ties, they'll be taking the field during the weekend's first series as members of their teams' Opening Day roster.

In all, 11 players are on active rosters for the first game, plus two more on the 10- or 15-day injured list.

Here's a look at players from Jacksonville-area high school or college baseball entering the 2023 MLB season.

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Javier Baez

Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (28) singles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon.
Tigers shortstop Javier Baez (28) singles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon.

Team: Detroit Tigers

Position: Infielder

Local tie: Arlington Country Day.

Age: 30

Last year: .238, 555 AB, 27 2B, 17 HR, 67 RBI, .671 OPS.

Notable: After $140 million deal and a rocky opening season, Detroit is counting on the free-swinging Baez to recapture the form from his All-Star years in Chicago.

Bryan Baker

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Pitcher

Local tie: University of North Florida

Age: 28

Last year: 4-3, 1 save, 3.49 ERA, 66 games, 69.2 IP, 26 BB, 76 K

Notable: Baker showed last year that he's ready to fill a valuable role in relief for the O's.

Mike Baumann

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Pitcher

Local tie: Jacksonville University

Age: 27

Last year: 1-3, 4.72 ERA, 13 games, 34.1 IP, 9 BB, 23 K

Notable: Former Dolphin secured bullpen role for Baltimore in spring training with five straight scoreless appearances.

Mike Clevinger

Team: Chicago White Sox

Position: Pitcher

Local tie: Wolfson

Age: 32

Last year: 7-7, 4.33 ERA, 23 games, 114.1 IP, 35 BB, 91 K

Notable: After tumultuous off-season, Clevinger returns to AL Central with White Sox; likely to occupy No. 3 or No. 4 spot in rotation.

Dane Dunning

Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning pitches against the Angels in a 2022 game.
Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning pitches against the Angels in a 2022 game.

Team: Texas Rangers

Position: Pitcher

Local tie: Clay

Age: 28

Last year: 4-8, 4.46 ERA, 29 games, 153.1 IP, 62 BB, 137 K

Notable: Dunning shifts to the bullpen for the first time since his Gators days amid a rotation makeover for Texas, with Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney all coming on board.

Austin Hays

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Outfielder

Local tie: Jacksonville University

Age: 27

Last year: .250, 535 AB, 35 2B, 16 HR, 60 RBI, .719 OPS.

Notable: Hays is on course for his third consecutive season as the everyday left fielder for the O's.

Justin Lawrence

Rockies relief pitcher Justin Lawrence (61) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a 2022 game.
Rockies relief pitcher Justin Lawrence (61) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a 2022 game.

Team: Colorado Rockies

Position: Pitcher

Local tie: First Coast/Jacksonville University

Age: 28

Last year: 3-1, 5.70 ERA, 38 games, 42.2 IP, 22 BB, 48 K.

Notable: Lawrence has had the movement on his pitches working of late, including the World Baseball Classic with Panama. He could be one of two locals on the roster if the Rockies promote Nease's Blair Calvo.

Nathaniel Lowe

Team: Texas Rangers

Position: First baseman

Local tie: St. Johns River State College

Age: 27

Last year: .302, 593 AB, 26 2B, 27 HR, 76 RBI, .850 OPS.

Notable: Lowe has quietly climbed the list of the hardest-hitting first basemen, topping the .300 mark and picking up an AL Silver Slugger Award last season.

Roberto Perez

Team: San Francisco Giants

Position: Catcher

Local tie: Florida Gateway College

Age: 34

Last year: .233, 60 AB, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .700 OPS (with Pirates).

Notable: Glove-first catcher made Giants' roster through minor league deal.

Austin Slater

Team: San Francisco Giants

Position: Outfielder

Local tie: Bolles

Age: 30

Last year: .264, 277 AB, 15 2B, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 12 SB, .774 OPS.

Notable: Slater opens on the 10-day injured list after straining his left hamstring during Cactus League action.

Myles Straw

Team: Cleveland Guardians

Position: Outfielder

Local tie: St. Johns River State College

Age: 28

Last year: .221, 535 AB, 22 2B, 0 HR, 32 RBI, 21 SB, .564 OPS

Notable: Speed and fielding are the name of the game for Straw, coming off his first Gold Glove in center for Cleveland.

Adam Wainwright

Team: St. Louis Cardinals

Position: Pitcher

Local tie: Glynn Academy

Age: 41

Last year: 11-12, 3.71 ERA, 32 games, 191.2 IP, 54 BB, 143 K.

Notable: The three-time All-Star, now up to 195 career wins since 2005 for the Cardinals, starts on the 15-day injured list after suffering a groin strain during the World Baseball Classic.

Brett Wisely

Giants second baseman Brett Wisely (70) scores a run against the Los Angeles Angels during a March 19 spring training game.
Giants second baseman Brett Wisely (70) scores a run against the Los Angeles Angels during a March 19 spring training game.

Team: San Francisco Giants

Position: Infielder

Local tie: Sandalwood

Age: 23

Last year: MLB debut.

Notable: After slugging three homers in spring training and displaying versatility on the infield, the former 15th-rounder out of Sandalwood receives a hard-earned big league debut.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: MLB Opening Day 2023: Jacksonville-area players, Major League rosters