MLB Opening Day 2013: West Virginia Alumnus Jedd Gyorko Makes Padres Opening Day Roster

Mar 17, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (68) singles during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Former West Virginia Mountaineers star slugger Jedd Gyorko will make his Major League Baseball debut Monday in a game at the New York Mets.

Gyorko was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2nd round of the 2010 MLB Draft and has since rocketed up the minor league ranks within the Padres organization.

After dazzling the coaching staff all spring long, Gyorko finally earned his spot on the Padres roster. But Gyorko is not simply just going to serve as a back-up infielder, he will be the opening day starter at second base.

The promotion to the big time certainly has him excited:

Gyorko is a third baseman by trade, but will move around the infield this season for manager Bud Black. Gyorko is officially listed as the starter at second base for the Padres and as the back-up at third base on the Padres team site.

Given his .257 batting average and 4 home runs in spring training this season, Gyorko will likely find himself batting 5th or 6th for Padres this week in New York.

The Mets pitching rotation is anything but tough this season, so expect Gyorko to register quite a few hits in his first series of the season.