Tanner Roark
Starting Pitcher, Washington Nationals
Roark went 13-11 with a 4.67 ERA in 2017 and could get the Game 4 start in the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs. As of Tuesday, the Nationals had not released their pitching rotation. Roark is a five-year veteran of the Nationals, owning a 55-39 record with a 3.41 ERA in 151 games since 2013.
Roark lettered in 2006 and 2007 at Illinois, earning second team All-Big Ten honors in 2007 when he went 6-1 during the conference season. His six Big Ten wins in 2007 ranked tied for second in Illinois history behind Kevin Duchene's 7-0 year in 2015.
Roark is one of 74 former Fighting Illini to make it to Major League Baseball. Seven have gone on to play in the World Series with the last being Scott Spiezio for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.
Mike Rizzo
General Manager & President of Baseball Operations, Washington Nationals
Rizzo has been the general manager of the Washington Nationals since 2009 and was promoted to President of Baseball Operations in 2013. The Nationals won the National League East Division with a 97-65 record.Â
Following a three-year playing career in Minor League Baseball, Rizzo landed a graduate assistant coaching job at Illinois in 1984 before becoming a scout.
Brett Weber
Replay Coordinator, New York Yankees
Weber plays a vital role for the New York Yankees and does it better than anyone in Major League Baseball. Weber relays to Yankees manager Joe Girardi when he thinks a play should be challenged and leads the league with a 71.8% effectiveness rate.
Weber was a three-year letterwinner at Illinois from 1996-98. He went 24-13 on the mound during his four-year career with 292 strikeouts in 315 2/3 innings. Weber's 292 strikeouts are the most in program history.
