Current Pro Baseball Players from Kansas (MLB 2023)
Baseball Players, and athletes of all sports really, take pride in where they’re from. Whether it’s the state, city or area code – you always notice players wanting to rep their home area.
Fans tend to do the same thing. It’s always more fun to pull for a player when they’re from your home state (or even your hometown), especially when that player also happens to be playing on your favorite team.
With all that in mind, we went through MLB.com and pulled the home states (or countries) of every player on the 40-man rosters for each team.
We found 6 players from the state of Kansas which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it actually puts Kansas right about in the middle of the pack – 32nd among the 50 states. Lawrence is by far the most well-represented city in the state, with 4 out of the 6 players born in Lawrence.
MLB Players from Kansas
Here are the six guys representing the state of Kansas on MLB Rosters at the start of the 2023 season including what town he’s from and what team he plays for.
| Name | City | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Blake Treinen | Wichita | Dodgers |
| Bryce Montes de Oca | Lawrence | Mets |
| Garrett Cleavinger | Lawrence | Rays |
| Jacob Stallings | Lawrence | Marlins |
| Joey Wentz | Lawrence | Tigers |
| John Means | Olathe | Orioles |
Player Bios
Here is a little more background info on a few of the standout players from the state of Kansas.
Blake Treinen
Hometown: Osage City, Kansas
Blake Treinen, from Osage City, Kansas, has established himself as one of the premier relief pitchers in Major League Baseball. Treinen’s baseball journey began at Osage City High School, followed by a collegiate career at South Dakota State University.
Drafted in the 7th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics, Treinen has become known for his high-velocity sinker and sharp slider. His time with the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers has been particularly notable, including playing a key role in the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Treinen’s career highlights include an All-Star selection and a significant part in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship, showcasing his ability as a high-leverage reliever.
Jacob Stallings
Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas
Jacob Stallings, hailing from Lawrence, Kansas, has made a name for himself as a skilled catcher in Major League Baseball. Stallings’ path to the majors began at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee and then the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Drafted in the 7th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stallings has become known for his excellent defensive skills, including framing and game-calling. In 2021, he won the National League Gold Glove award for his position, underscoring his defensive prowess.
Stallings has also contributed offensively, providing solid batting and on-base percentages, making him a valuable all-around player behind the plate.
John Means
Hometown: Olathe, Kansas
John Means, originally from Olathe, Kansas, has emerged as a key starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Means attended Gardner Edgerton High School in Kansas, followed by a collegiate career at West Virginia University.
Drafted in the 11th round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, Means has become a top performer in the Orioles’ rotation. His breakout season in 2019, which included an All-Star selection and a strong showing in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, highlighted his pitching talent.
Means is known for his command and changeup, and he has consistently provided quality starts, including pitching a no-hitter in 2021, showcasing his ability to lead a pitching staff.
Hall of Fame Players from Kansas
In addition to the current players from Kansas, we compiled a list of all players that have gone on to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame:
| Name | City | Induction Year |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Tinker | Muscotah | 1946 |
| Walter Johnson | Humboldt | 1936 |
Baseball State Fun Facts
The state of California, by far, has the most current players of any state with 189.
Second most was Florida with 89, followed by Texas (78), New York (42) and Georgia (40).
The Dominican Republic has 120 players currently in major league baseball which is incredibly impressive considering the country has a total population of only 11 million people. By comparison, the state of California has a population of 39 million and the state of Florida has a population of almost 22 million.
Other States
We are slowly but surely getting all the states published from the data we collected. Here are a few of the other states we currently have available.
