Four NJCAA Alumni to Participate in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game
Charlotte, NC - The 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will take place on July 11, 2023, at 8:00 PM ET. The NJCAA will have four alumni participating in the midsummer classic with three competing and one calling balls and strikes.
Former Seminole State (FL) outfielder Austin Hays will represent the American League's Baltimore Orioles as a starter in the outfield at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Hays spent one season with the Raiders where he batted .382 with 6 home runs and 28 RBIs. Hays was selected as a first-team All-FCSAA and moved onto the four-year level to compete for Jacksonville University. The Orioles selected the outfielder in the 2016 Major League Draft and promoted him to the big leagues in 2017. Hays became the 338th big leaguer to hit for the cycle when he accomplished this on June 22, 2022, against the Washington Nationals. This will be Hays' first appearance in the All-Star Game.
Connors State (OK) alumni Jordan Roman will represent the Toronto Blue Jays of the American League on the mound during the midsummer classic. Roman pitched in 47.3 innings for the Cowboys with a 4-4 career record, 67 strikeouts, and a 6.71 ERA. Jordan helped lead Connors State to an appearance in the 2013 NJCAA World Series. The pitcher then moved on to compete for a season at Oral Roberts as a closer. Roman was then selected in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB Draft where he competed in the minors until 2019 when the Blue Jays called him up to be a part of their pitching staff. Roman has been the team's closer since 2021 and will be making his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance.
Former Wallace State (AL) pitcher Craig Kimbrel will represent the National League's Philadelphia Phillies on the mound in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Kimbrel spent two seasons with the Lions finishing his career with a 17-3 record and a 2.44 ERA. Craig was then selected out of Wallace State by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Kimbrel was called up by the Braves in 2010 and has spent the rest of his career in the Majors with seven different teams (Atlanta, San Diego, Boston, CHC, CHW, LAD, and Philadelphia). The former Lion has many accomplishments during his MLB tenure which include 2011 NL Rookie of the Year, 9x All-Star, 2018 World Series Champion, 2x Reliever of the Year, 4x NL Saves Leader, and the 300 saves club.
Garden City (KS) alumni Todd Tichenor will be the home plate umpire and crew chief for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Tichenor was a part of the Broncobusters' baseball teams from 1995-1997 upon graduating he started in the profession of umpiring at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring. Todd has spent 24 years in professional baseball and 14 in the Major Leagues where he was promoted to crew chief in 2023. The former Broncobuster has received many special assignments during his career including two MLB All-Star games, three Wild Card Series, five division series, three league championship series, the 2020 World Series, and the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
