Alas, the Major League Baseball regular season has come to end and while, for most of the Virginia alumni, that indicates a transition to the offseason, three former ‘Hoos will compete for World Series
titles with their respective teams.
A summary of how each of the Cavaliers in the Show performed in 2025:
Chris Taylor (2010-12)
Taylor was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the middle of 2025, and was subsequently picked up by the cross-town Angels to finish off the year. While he is no longer a productive MLB player at the age of 35, he had a storied career 12-year career, which included an all-star appearance, an NLCS MVP, and two World Series titles with the Dodgers.
Ernie Clement (2015-17)
Clement was a major catalyst for a Toronto Blue Jays team that significantly exceeded expectations, winning 94 games and clinching the AL East division title on the final day of the season. Clement was the best version of the player we knew at UVA — a complete old school prototype. He was in the top five percent of the league in strikeout rate, whiff rate, and outs above average (measuring fielding performance), but in the bottom 10 percent in hard hit rate and walk rate. This amounts to a slash line of .277/.313/.398 (OPS+ of 95). Considering his ability to provide elite defense at multiple infield spots, Clement is penciled into the starting lineup for Toronto, who will begin postseason play on Saturday versus the winner of the Yankees-Red Sox series.
Pavin Smith (2015-17)
The former 7th overall pick was productive with the bat as a 1B/DH for the Arizona Diamondbacks, slashing .258/.362/.434 (OPS+ of 120) in 288 plate appearances. Smith’s season was cut short in late August when he suffered a calf strain, shortly after a six-week absence from an oblique injury.
Bennett Sousa (2015-18)
For the first time in a while, Sousa was healthy for a bulk of the season, and he threw well out of the bullpen for the Houston Astros. In 50.2 innings, he pitched to a 2.84 ERA striking out nearly 30% of opposing hitters and inducing a 50% whiff rate on his slider. Sousa also reached an average fastball velocity of 95.0 mph, which is encouraging for the 30-year-old’s longevity. While the Astros ultimately missed the postseason for the first time since 2016, Sousa did his part.
Daniel Lynch (2016-18)
Lynch has settled into a bridge reliever role for the Kansas City Royals and was reliable when called upon. The southpaw tossed 67.2 innings in 57 appearances (two starts) with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Since leaving the rotation, Lynch has become a heavy slider guy, throwing that pitch over 50% of the time to left-handed hitters. With a ground ball rate of 49.1%, Lynch is an optimal fit for the Royals, who have arguably the best defensive infield in the sport.
Jake McCarthy (2016-18)
McCarthy had a down year, at least with the bat, slashing just .204/.247/.345 (OPS+ of 62) in 222 plate appearances. For a lot of the season, McCarthy was able to stick around on the Diamondbacks, who finished 80-82 and outside of a postseason spot once again. Even if the hitting remains subpar, McCarthy’s 99th percentile sprint speed, good contact rates, and capable center field defense should allow him to continue to add some sort of value to an MLB roster.
Andrew Abbott (2018-21)
Abbott and the Cincinnati Reds are headed to the playoffs, sneaking in this past Sunday with some help from the Miami Marlins! The former UVA ace broke out from an already impressive first two seasons, pitching to a 2.87 ERA, striking out 159 hitters, and allowing just 2.3 walks and 1.0 home runs per nine innings, all of which were career bests. Abbott had made his living on suppressing hard contact, placing in the 93rd percentile of the league with a hard hit rate against of 33.7%, aided by his wicked slider which he has utilized more sparingly and strategically. The southpaw slots in as the game three starter for the Reds as they look to upset the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best of three Wild Card Series.
Zack Gelof (2019-21)
While Gelof was injured for most of the 2025 season, he certainly struggled when he was able to play. In just 92 at bats, the converted second baseman struck out 46 times while batting just .174 with five extra base hits. Even with good defender, Gelof was graded as a below replacement level player, clocking in at -0.1 bWAR and -0.3 fWAR. Following a successful shoulder surgery that should allow him to be fully healthy headed into next season, the hope is that he can return to his rookie year magic from 2023.
Mike Vasil (2019-21)
Vasil was a lone bright spot for the 60-102 Chicago White Sox, as he threw 101 innings of 2.50 ERA ball, primarily as a reliever. While the strikeout and walk numbers were not optimal for the former UVA right-hander, he was able to keep the ball off the barrel and induce a ground ball rate in the 85th percentile of the league. Even though some regression may be in the works for the 2026 season, Vasil has proven to be yet another major league caliber pitcher out of UVA.
Kyle Teel (2021-23)
One of the more highly touted prospects in the sport also got his chance for a bad White Sox team down the stretch and proved everyone right. In 297 plate appearances, Teel ended up slashing .273/.375/.411 (OPS+ of 121) with eight home runs. As the Virginia faithful know very well, Teel is a pitcher’s best friend behind the dish, and while he did not grade out exceptionally in terms of blocking balls, he was above average in framing run value. Whether it is with Chicago or somewhere else, Teel is destined to have a long and successful MLB career.
Connelly Early (2023)
The former Army Black Knight and Virginia Cavalier left-hander spent most of his 2025 season in AA, but eventually earned a promotion to AAA, and to MLB quickly after that. In four Major League starts with the Boston Red Sox, Early pitched 19.1 innings, allowing just four earned runs, while striking out 29 and waking just four. In the Red Sox organization, he has continued to build on his deep arsenal, featuring primarily a four-seamer, cutter, and changeup to righties and mixing in the sweeper to play off his sinker against fellow left-handers. With starter Lucas Giolito off the postseason roster with an elbow injury, there is a decent chance Early starts a potential game three of Boston’s upcoming Wild Card Series. If he can replicate his postseason outings at UVA, the Red Sox are in good hands.
