It’s no exaggeration that USC has one of the most successful baseball programs in collegiate history. With more than 3,000 all-time wins and 12 national championships — the latter being the most of any Division I school — you would be hard-pressed to find another NCAA program with a comparable historical resume.

USC has produced plenty of future MLB players from this success, including 20 All-Stars and two Hall of Famers. In total, 119 Trojans have gone on to play for an MLB team, just one behind Texas for the most of any school in the country.

When the 2025 MLB season officially started on March 27, three former Trojans were represented on their team’s major league rosters. As the season gets off and running, here’s a look at the stories behind these three alums.

Lars Nootbaar — Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals

Outfielder Lars Nootbaar — or “Noot,” to the St. Louis faithful — has been a star in the making since his USC debut in 2016. After starting 29 games as a true freshman, Nootbaar broke out with a massive sophomore season, batting .313 with 34 RBIs and a .929 OPS to earn a spot on the All-Pac-12 team. He followed it up with another high-quality season in his junior year before being drafted by the Cardinals in 2018.

Nootbaar made his MLB debut in 2021 and has become a consistent member of St. Louis’ outfield rotation in the years since. On a rate basis, he has excelled — last season, his walk rate was in the 98th percentile of all qualified players, and his chase rate was the best in the entire league. The problem with Nootbaar has simply been staying healthy, as he has missed at least 45 games in each of the past three seasons. When he plays, Nootbaar is one of the best in the game — but that only matters if he’s actually on the field.

Arguably, the highlight of Nootbaar’s career thus far was his time playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic on a Japan team headlined by superstar Shohei Ohtani. Nootbaar hit leadoff and recorded an RBI in the championship game against the United States, leading Japan to a 3-2 win and its third WBC title. Trojans and Cardinals fans had known about Nootbaar for years, but the tournament made him a worldwide sensation overnight.

The star potential is absolutely there, both in his production and his international appeal — Nootbaar just needs to become an everyday player. If he can remain healthy for a full season, don’t be surprised to hear his name as a dark horse candidate for National League MVP.

Tyler Gilbert — Relief Pitcher, Chicago White Sox

Left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert only spent one year as a Trojan, but he certainly made the most of it. Over 67 2/3 innings in the 2015 season, Gilbert posted a 2.79 ERA and 66 strikeouts, both the second-best on the team. He also came through in the NCAA Tournament, picking up a save and a win in the Trojans’ victories over UC Santa Barbara and San Diego State, respectively.

Following the season, Gilbert was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, but he wouldn’t make his MLB debut until six years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After a few solid relief outings, Arizona gave Gilbert the starting nod on Aug. 14, 2021 — he proceeded to throw a no-hitter in his first career start, an incredible accomplishment that has only been matched by one other player since 1900.

Gilbert hasn’t quite reached the heights of that start since, but he’s been a reliable pitcher in both starting and relief roles, with a 4.23 ERA over exactly 100 career innings. In the offseason, Gilbert was traded to a White Sox team coming off the single worst season in modern baseball history, and figures to play a significant role in the bullpen.

While it is certainly unlikely that he will hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy anytime soon, Gilbert should get plenty of playing time — perhaps enough to attract the attention of a contending team in need of quality pitching at the trade deadline.

Kyle Hurt — Relief Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Before being drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2020, right-handed pitcher Kyle Hurt was a staple of USC’s starting rotation. Across three seasons, Hurt racked up 172 2/3 innings pitched and 170 strikeouts, both the most of any Trojan pitcher in that span. While his 5.06 career ERA wasn’t exactly elite, his durability and potential were enough to warrant a fifth-round selection by Miami before being traded to the Dodgers a year later.

Hurt has very limited experience in the majors so far, accumulating only 8 2/3 innings since his debut in 2023. Despite the small sample size, his numbers are still a sight to behold, with an identical 1.04 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. These stats almost certainly wouldn’t hold up given a larger sample, but if he even comes close to replicating them across a full season, Hurt could easily become one of the top relievers in the game.

Unfortunately, Dodger fans will have to wait a while longer to see Hurt on the mound — he’s still recovering after undergoing Tommy John surgery last July. Assuming he can return for the second half, however, he should be a key bullpen piece down the stretch for a Dodgers team hoping to win a second straight World Series title and its ninth overall.