NJCAA Alumni involved in the 2024 MLB World Series
Charlotte, NC: The 120th edition of the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series starts this evening, with two of the league's most storied organizations facing off. The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Yankees, who have a combined 34 World Series crowns between them.
Seven former NJCAA athletes are suiting up in the Fall Classic as players or umpires.
Anthony Banda has pitched at the MLB level since 2017 and, throughout his career, played for eight different clubs. Banda was drafted out of high school in 2011 but chose not to sign and attend San Jacinto (TX). During his lone season, Banda finished with a 7-1 record, 2.01 ERA, and 73 strikeouts. As a result, he was named an NJCAA Third-Team All-America selection. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 10th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He stayed within the Brewers' organization until he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2014 and made his major league debut with them on July 22, 2017. Banda has been a critical arm for the Dodgers throughout their 2024 season and appeared in 48 games during the regular season, pitching 49.2 innings with a 3.08 ERA and 50 strikeouts. Throughout the postseason, Banda has appeared in six games and pitched 5.2 innings.
Former World Series champion Ryan Brasier has reached the World Series for the second time in his career after being a part of the 2018 Boston Red Sox World Series Championship team. Brasier pitched for Weatherford College (TX) in 2007. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Brasier in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut on May 2, 2013. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014, Braiser spent the 2015 season rehabbing from his elbow surgery and spent 2016 within the Oakland Athletics farm system. Braiser signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2017 and played in Japan for said season, later returning to the MLB with the Boston Red Sox, being a part of their 2018 postseason and World Series winning roster. This season is Brasier's second with the Dodgers, and he has pitched 28 innings for a 3.54 ERA and 25 strikeouts.
Four-time Gold Glove recipient Kevin Kiemaier began his baseball career at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois. Throughout his two years playing for the Cobras, Kiermaier led them to their second national baseball championship in program history and was twice named an NJCAA All-America selection. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2010 MLB Draft and played there for the first nine years of his career. As a free agent in 2023, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and played up north for the next two seasons. On July 30, 2024, the Blue Jays traded the outfielder to the Dodgers, and he has been a part of their roster for the rest of this season. Since joining the Dodgers, Kiermaier has appeared in 34 games, hitting for a .203 average and being an essential outfield glove for the National League champions.
In addition to those playing on the field, two umpires for this year's World Series are also NJCAA Alumni. Mark Carlson will be the crew chief and call his third World Series. Carlson played college baseball at Parkland under then head coach and current NJCAA Assistant Vice President for Spots Governance and Regional Leadership Rod Lovett. Since becoming an MLB Umpire, Carlson has called two All-Star Games, umpired two no-hitters, nine divisional series', six league championship series, and a World Baseball Classic in 2023.
Garden City (KS) alum Todd Tichenor is working his second World Series and first since 2020. He was a part of the Broncbusters' baseball team from 1995 to 1997 and immediately began his career as an umpire after graduating. Throughout his career, Tichenor has been a part of three all-star games, three wild card games/series, seven divisional series, three league championship series, and the 2017 World Baseball Classic. On May 9, 2010, he was a part of the umpire crew involved in baseball history. Oakland Athletics pitcher Dallas Braden would take the mound that day and throw the 19th perfect game in MLB history.
Dodgers pitcher Brent Honeywell originally attended Walters State Community College (TN) during the 2014 season and earned numerous honors. Honeywell finished the season with a 10-3 record, 2.81 ERA, and 102 strikeouts. He was a NJCAA Second Team All-America selection, recipient of the NJCAA ABA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award, and was 1st Team All-TCCAA. The right-hander was selected in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He rose the ranks throughout the minor leagues, appearing as the 11th-best prospect in all of baseball in 2018. Honeywell made his MLB debut on April 11, 2021, against the team he will pitch against in the World Series, the New York Yankees. He is now a member of the Dodgers and has spent the last few seasons playing for five different teams. Since joining the Dodgers in July, Honeywell has pitched 34.1 innings with a 2.62 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
Fellow Dodger and Walters State Senator Landon Knack will also take the mound during the World Series. Knack was a NJCAA Second Team All-America selection in 2018, TCCAA Pitcher of the Year, and First Team All-TCCAA in 2018. During the 2018 season, Knack led the Senators to the 2018 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series. Throughout the World Series, Knack pitched seven innings, striking out five batters across two games. Walters State would go to the national championship game and fall to Chipola (FL). Knack would move on to East Tennesee State University and played college baseball there for two seasons. He was drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander was added to the Dodgers 40-man roster in November and was named to the Opening Day roster for 2024 shortly after. He has appeared in 15 games, with 12 starts, 69 innings, a 3.65 ERA, and 69 strikeouts.
