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With the 2023 Minor League Baseball season opening this week and the Major League Baseball season just a week old, Eastern Illinois baseball has several former players active as players in the Minors and as coaches in the Big Leagues.
 
Hayden Birdsong, EIU's most recent draft selection last summer, will open the season with the San Jose Giants.  They are the Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
 
Trey Sweeney, a first-round draft selection two years ago, will open the year with the Somerset Patriots.  They are the Class AA affiliate of the New York Yankees.
 
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Class AA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, will open the season with a pair of Panthers on its roster.  Jimmy Govern and Will Klein have both been assigned there.
 
Jake Haberer will also be in the start of Arkansas with the Class AA Arkansas Travelers.  They are the affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
 
Michael YaSenka was in spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals Class AA affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals, but was released in late March.
 
Matt Wivinis, who spent a portion of last year with the Texas Rangers Class AA affiliate the Frisco RoughRiders, voluntarily retired following last season.
 
Eastern Illinois will once again be represented in the coaching ranks in the Major Leagues with a heavy National League presence.
 
Kevin Seitzer returns as the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves.  Tim Bogar returns as the first base coach for the Washington Nationals.   Both former Panthers have been on those staffs during recent World Series Championships for Atlanta and Washington.
 
Derek Johnson returns as the Director of Pitching for the Cincinnati Reds while Andy Haines is the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
 
Kyle Haines, a former minor league manager, will continue his front office role serving as the Director of Player Development for the San Francisco Giants.