By Pete Cava
PBR Indiana Correspondent

Follow @PBRIndiana

From the Major Leagues to Class High-A, this year’s Opening-Day rosters included 57 Indiana natives – 54 players, two managers and one coach. 

Eighteen Hoosier-born players were on big league rosters to start out the season, along with a pair of skippers.  Two players opened the year on the disabled list.

Those numbers have changed since opening day.   

The Cincinnati Reds recalled catcher Tucker Barnhart, a Brownsburg High School product, from the Louisville Bats (AAA International) on April 17. 

The Cleveland Indians recalled outfielder Tyler Holt from the Columbus Clippers (International) on May 4.  Cleveland returned the Marion, Ind., native to the Clippers on May 5. 

Catcher Drew Butera, who was born in Evansville while his father – former big league catcher Sal Butera – played there in 1983, was designated for assignment on May 4 by the Los Angeles Angels. 

Craig Counsell, a South Bend native who attended Notre Dame, was hired to manage Milwaukee on May 5 after the Brewers fired Ron Roenicke. 

Second baseman Micah Johnson became the 365^th Indiana native to reach the majors when the Park Tudor and Indiana U. alum debuted with the Chicago White Sox on April 6.

In addition to the 57 players, managers and coaches listed here, four more native Hoosiers with big-league experience – all pitchers – are playing for overseas teams. 

Bryan Bullington (Indianapolis) is with Japan’s Hiroshima Carp;  Jarrett Grube (Fort Wayne) is with the Tigres de Quintana Roo in Mexico;  Josh Lindblom (Lafayette) signed with Korea’s Lotte Giants;  and Ryan Tatusko (Merrillville) is with the Hanwha Eagles of Korea.

These lists do not include Indiana-born players in short-season leagues, which begin play later this summer. 

Major Leagues (18 players, 2 managers) 

Clint Barmes (Vincennes), infield, San Diego Padres.                            

Aaron Barrett (Evansville), pitcher, Washington Nationals.                       

Brandon Beachy (Kokomo), pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers (60-day disabled list, February 23).  

Drew Butera (Evansville), catcher, Los Angeles Angels (designated for assignment, May 4).      

Kyle Gibson (Greenfield), pitcher, Minnesota Twins.

LaTroy Hawkins (Gary), pitcher, Colorado Rockies.

Tommy Hunter (Indianapolis), pitcher, Baltimore Orioles.                                                 

Micah Johnson (Indianapolis), second base, Chicago White Sox (major league debut, April 6). 

Kevin Kiermaier (Fort Wayne), outfield, Tampa Bay Rays.

Adam Lind (Muncie), first base/outfield, Milwaukee Brewers                                                             

Lance Lynn (Indianapolis), pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals.                                 

Don Mattingly (Evansville), manager, Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lloyd McClendon (Gary), manager, Seattle Mariners.

Jarrod Parker (Fort Wayne), pitcher, Oakland Athletics (15-day disabled list, April 4).              

Josh Phegley (Terre Haute), catcher, Oakland Athletics.

Jeff Samardzija (Merrillville), pitcher, Chicago White Sox.

Jordan Schafer (Hammond), outfield, Minnesota Twins.                                                   

Drew Storen (Indianapolis), pitcher, Washington Nationals.

Eric Stults (Plymouth), pitcher, Atlanta Braves.

Joe Thatcher (Indianapolis), pitcher, Houston Astros.

Triple-A (11 players)

Nevin Ashley (Vincennes), catcher, Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Pacific Coast (Brewers).

Tucker Barnhart (Indianapolis), catcher, Louisville Bats, International (Reds).

Dan Black (Indianapolis), first base, Charlotte Knights, International (White Sox).

Jarrett Casey (Indianapolis), pitcher, Charlotte Knights, International (White Sox).

Tyler Holt (Marion), outfield, Columbus Clippers, International (Indians).               

Brock Huntzinger (Anderson), pitcher, Nashville Sounds, Pacific Coast (Athletics).

Alex Meyer (Greensburg), pitcher, Rochester Red Wings, International (Twins).

Clayton Richard (Lafayette), pitcher, Indianapolis Indians, International (Pirates – extended      

spring training).

Mel Rojas Jr. (Indianapolis), outfield, Indianapolis Indians, International (Pirates).

Brady Shoemaker (Brazil), outfield, New Orleans Zephyrs, Pacific Coast (Marlins).        

Ryan Strausborger (Elkhart), outfield, Round Rock Express, Pacific Coast (Rangers).

Double-A (8 players)

Jerad Eickhoff (Evansville), pitcher, Frisco Roughriders, Texas (Rangers).

Jake Fox (Greenfield), first base/outfield, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Eastern (Blue Jays).

Conrad Gregor (Indianapolis), first base, Corpus Christi Hooks, Texas (Astros).

Jeremy Hazelbaker (Muncie), outfield, Tulsa Drillers, Texas (Dodgers).

Cameron Hobson (Crawfordsville), pitcher, Jackson Generals, Southern (Mariners).

Jeremy Kehrt (Plainfield), pitcher, Tulsa Drillers, Texas (Dodgers).

Justin O’Conner (Indianapolis), catcher, Montgomery Biscuits, Southern (Rays). 

Nolan Sanburn (Kokomo), pitcher, Birmingham Barons, Southern (White Sox).

High-A (8 players, 1 coach)

Brandon Alger (Fort Wayne), pitcher, Lake Elsinore Storm, California (Padres).

Trey Ball (New Castle), pitcher, Salem Red Sox, Carolina (Red Sox). 

JD Closser (Beech Grove), coach, Tampa Yankees, Florida State (Yankees).

Sean Godfrey (Indianapolis), outfield, Carolina Mudcats, Carolina (Braves).

David Ledbetter (Anderson), pitcher, High Desert Mavericks, California (Rangers).

Ryan Ledbetter (Anderson), pitcher, High Desert Mavericks, California (Rangers).

Kyle Lloyd (Carmel), pitcher, Lake Elsinore Storm, California (Padres). 

Jeremy Lucas (Terre Haute), catcher, Akron Rubberducks, Eastern (Indians).

A.J. Reed (Terre Haute), first base, Lancaster JetHawks, California (Astros). 

Low-A (9 players)

Sean Manaea (Valparaiso), pitcher, Wilmington Blue Rocks, Carolina (Royals).

Nick Cunningham (Indianapolis), pitcher, Delmarva Shorebirds, South Atlantic (Orioles).

Dustin DeMuth (Merrillville), third base, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Midwest (Brewers).

Nolan Earley (Anderson), outfield, Kannapolis Intimidators, South Atlantic (White Sox).

Radley Haddad (Columbus), catcher, Charleston River Dogs, South Atlantic (Yankees).

Jerrick Suiter (Hobart), outfield, West Virginia Power, South Atlantic (Pirates).

Josh VanMeter (Fort Wayne), shortstop, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Midwest (Padres). 

Tyler Wampler (Terre Haute), outfield, Great Lakes Loons, Midwest (Dodgers). 

T.J. Weir (Kokomo), pitcher, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Midwest (Padres).  

Samardzija’s paycheck tops Hoosier big leaguers

Here are salaries for each of the Indiana natives on big league Opening Day rosters and disabled lists. 

These figures were compiled by USA Today Sports, based on documents obtained from the MLB Players Association, club officials and agents, filed with Major League Baseball.  Deferred payments and incentive clauses are not included.

Jeff Samardzija, P, White Sox          $9,800.000

Adam Lind, 1B, Brewers                  $7,500,000

Lance Lynn, P, Cardinals                  $7,000,000

Drew Storen, P, Nationals                 $5,700,000

Tommy Hunter, P, Orioles                $4,650,000

*Brandon Beachy, P, Dodgers         $2,500,000

LaTroy Hawkins, P, Rockies            $2,250,000

Eric Stults, P, Braves                         $2,000,000

Jordan Schafer, OF, Twins               $1,550,000

Clint Barmes, SS, Padres                  $1,300,000

Joe Thatcher, P, Astros                     $1,000,000

Drew Butera, C, Angels                    $987,500

*Jarrod Parker, P, Athletics             $850,000

Kyle Gibson, P, Twins                       $537,500

Aaron Barrett, P, Nationals              $524,200

Kevin Kiermaier, OF, Rays              $513,800

Josh Phegley, C, White Sox              $510,000

Micah Johnson, 2B, White Sox        $507,500

*DL

Pete Cava is the author of Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players:  A Biographical Dictionary, 1871-2014, coming soon from McFarland Publishers.