Several baseball players who either hail from Maine or played at the University of Maine are playing professionally this season.

A pair of pitchers who made major league Opening Day rosters have landed on the injured list.

Cody Laweryson, 27, of Bingham and UMaine made the Minnesota Twins out of spring training and appeared in five games in relief before being placed on the injured list April 11 because of a forearm strain.

Prior to going on the IL, Laweryson collected his first career save and struck out eight over 6 1/3 innings. The right-handed Laweryson, a 14th-round pick by the Twins in 2019, made his MLB debut late last season, then was released. The Angels claimed him off waivers but released him in February, and a week later he rejoined the Twins.

Right-hander Matt Pushard of Brewer made his MLB debut March 29 for the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up three runs on three hits in one inning. He was placed on the IL two days later because of right knee tendinitis.

On Wednesday, Pushard was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds for a rehab assignment. Also a former UMaine pitcher, he was in the Miami Marlins’ organization from 2022-25, then was taken by the Cardinals in the Rule 5 draft in December, meaning St. Louis must keep him in the majors all season or offer him back to the Marlins.

Hunter Owen of South Portland is back in Springdale, Arkansas, for a second season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The 6-foot-6 left-hander has made one appearance, giving up a two-run homer Saturday over three innings of relief. Last season, Owen went 5-5 with a 3.80 ERA for the Naturals, appearing in 22 games (19 starts) and striking out 107 over 94 2/3 innings.

FIRST FULL YEAR

Pitchers Brady Afthim of Windham and Cody Bowker of Bowdoinham (Thornton Academy) are in the Class A Florida State League.

Afthim, 23, is with the Daytona Tortugas again; he made two appearances last season after being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 14th round. The right-hander, a four-year reliever at the University of Connecticut, hasn’t allowed a run in three appearances covering 5 1/3 innings. Afthim has given up one hit, walked three and struck out seven.

Bowker, 22, the third-round pick (100th overall) of the Philadelphia Phillies last summer after a standout junior season at Vanderbilt, is with the Clearwater Threshers. The right-hander is 0-2 in two starts, with an 11.12 ERA over 5 2/3 innings. Bowker has allowed five hits, five walks and two home runs, striking out nine.

Also, former Bonny Eagle standout Jacob Humphrey has had a nice start to with the Colorado Rockies organization.

END OF THE ROAD?

In recent seasons the San Francisco Giants drafted three UMaine players, including infielder Quinn McDaniel from Eliot (Marshwood) and right-handed pitcher Nick Sinacola from Providence, Rhode Island.

McDaniel and Sinacola were among several minor leaguers released March 30 by the Giants.

McDaniel, 23, the Giants’ fifth-round pick in 2023, spent the past two seasons as a second baseman/outfielder with the organization’s High-A club in Eugene, Oregon. After hitting .236 with a .345 on-base percentage, 13 homers and 40 steals (47 attempts) over 116 games in 2024, McDaniel’s numbers dipped last season (.227 average, .333 OBP, 9 HR, 14 SB).

Sinacola, 26, a seventh-round pick in 2021, spent five seasons in the Giants’ system. The right-hander posted solid career numbers, going 21-16 with a 3.79 ERA over 363 1/3 innings, with 58 starts and 99 appearances. Playing for the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the Double-A Eastern League last season, he was used mostly as a reliever, going 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA, striking out 47 and walking 27.

Former UMaine first baseman/designated hitter Jeremiah Jenkins of Falls Church, Virginia, is still in the Giants’ system. Drafted in the 14th round in 2024, the 22-year-old Jenkins is in his third season in Class A with the San Jose Giants of the California League. Through six games he’s hitting .400 with two homers and seven RBI.