The 2021 World Series begins today as the Atlanta Braves seek their first Fall Classic crown since 1995 while the Houston Astros look for their second championship in four seasons.
California edges the Dominican Republic as the home of the most players competing for the World Series teams. Nine players, including seven from Atlanta, graduated from California high schools while six players hail from the Dominican Republic.
A total of seven former MaxPreps All-Americans will compete in the World Series
— four for the Astros and three for the Braves. Jake Odorizzi of Highland (Ill.), the MaxPreps National Player of the Year in 2008, heads the list for the Astros and he is joined by Alex Bregman of Albuquerque Academy, Ryne Stanek of Blue Valley (Stillwell, Kan.) and Kyle Tucker of Plant (Tampa, Fla.).
For Atlanta, Ian Anderson of Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.), Tyler Matzek of Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, Calif.), and Austin Riley of DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.) were all MaxPreps All-Americans.
Following are the members of the two active rosters along with their alma mater.
Atlanta's Tyler Matzek when he played high school baseball for Capistrano Valley.
File photo by Louis Lopez
Ehire Adrianza
— Venezuela
Ozzie Albies
— Curacao
Ian Anderson
— Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.)Orlando Arcia
— Venezuela
Johan Camargo
— Panama
Jesse Chavez
— Miller (Fontana, Calif.)William Contreras
— Venezuela
Travis d'Arnaud
— Lakewood (Calif.)Adam Duvall
— Butler (Louisville, Ky.)Freddie Freeman
— El Modena (Orange, Calif.)Max Fried
— Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)Guillermo Heredia
— Cuba
Luke Jackson
— Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)Chris Martin
— Arlington (Texas)Tyler Matzek
— Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, Calif.)AJ Minter
— Brook Hill (Bullard, Texas)Charlie Morton
— Joel Barlow (Redding, Conn.)Drew Smyly
— Central (Little Rock, Ark.)Christian Pache
— Dominican Republic
Joc Pederson
— Palo Alto (Calif.)Austin Riley
— DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.)Eddie Rosario
— Rafael Lopez Landron (Puerto Rico)
Will Smith
— Northgate (Newnan, Ga.)Dansby Swanson
— Marietta (Ga.)Jacob Webb
— Poly (Riverside, Calif.)Huascar Ynoa
— Dominican Republic
Houston Astros
Jose Altuve
— Venezuela
Yordan Alvarez
— Cuba
Michael Brantley
— Central (Fort Pierce, Fla.)Alex Bregman
— Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque, N.M.)Jason Castro
— Castro Valley (Calif.)Carlos Correa
— Puerto Rio Baseball Academy
Aledmys Diaz
— Cuba
Luis Garcia
— Venezuela
Yimi Garcia
— Dominican Republic
Kendall Graveman
— Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, Ala.)Zack Greinke
— Apopka (Fla.)Yuli Gurriel
— Cuba
Christian Javier
— Dominican Republic
Martin Maldonado
— Juan Nunez, Puerto Rico
Phil Maton
— Glenwood (Chatham, Ill.)Chas McCormick
— Henderson (West Chester, Pa.)Jake Meyers
— Omaha Westside (Omaha, Neb.)Jake Odorizzi
— Highland (Ill.)Ryan Pressly
— Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas)Brooks Raley
— Uvalde (Texas)Jose Siri
— Dominican Republic
Blake Taylor
— Dana Hills (Dana Point, Calif.)Kyle Tucker
— Plant (Tampa, Fla.)Ryne Stanek
— Blue Valley (Stilwell, Kan.)Jose Urquidy
— Mexico
Framber Valdez
— Dominican Republic
