MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU players and a pair of Morgantown natives are featured on the initial roster for the West Virginia Black Bears. The MLB Draft League franchise is the co-tenant with the WVU Mountaineers at Monongalia County Ballpark.
Four current Mountaineers will compete for the Black Bears in at least the first half of their summer season. Pitcher/outfielder Kevin Dowdell, catcher Dayne Leonard, outfielder Caleb McNeely and shortstop Tevin Tucker have been included on the Black Bears’ roster. WVU signees Aaron Jamison and Lincoln Pack will also play for the Black Bears.
Additionally, University High School and Shepherd University graduate Ross Mulhall will compete in his hometown.
The 2023 Major League Baseball Draft will be held July 9-11 and draft-eligible players compete in the six-team Draft League while awaiting the draft or signing a free agent contract. All of the players listed are draft-eligible this year.
Dowdell has played in 60 games over the past two seasons for West Virginia. Leonard is WVU’s starting catcher and is batting .256 with 45 RBI in 57 games this season. McNeely is batting .301 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI in his first season at WVU. Tucker joined the Mountaineers in 2019 and has played in 188 career games at WVU. Tucker, the team’s starting shortstop, is batting a career-high .319 this spring.
Jamison just concluded a stellar three-year prep career at Morgantown High School. In his senior season, Jamison hit .366 with 6 home runs and 31 RBI in 26 games. Pack is a fellow future Mountaineer who hails from nearby Mount Morris, Pa.
Mulhall, who previously played at Gardner-Webb and LaSalle, started all 45 games for Shepherd this spring. He led the Rams with a .395 batting average and 51 RBI in his final college season.
The Black Bears, who won the MLB Draft League Championship last season, are under new leadership this summer. East Fairmont and WVU graduate and former MLB pitcher David Carpenter is the team’s new manager. He replaces fellow former Mountaineer and MLB veteran Jedd Gyorko.
The Black Bears open their title defense Thursday at Mahoning Valley. Their home opener is set for Tuesday, June 6 against Williamsport.