The WVU baseball program has former players scattered throughout the MLB, and many of them are shining and performing very well. Most WVU baseball fans and WVU fans in general are familiar with JJ Wetherholt, Victor Scott II, and Alex Manoah, but there's another former player who has recently made a great start for his major league team.
In a matchup between the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies, former Mountaineer Ryan Bergert got the starting nod for the Padres and finished the game, striking out seven Phillies in his 4.2 innings of work last Friday. The Pardes drafted Bergert in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft,
Ryan Bergert strikes out seven
— San Diego Strong (@PadresStrong) July 12, 2025
Ryan Bergert strikes out seven batters over 4 2/3 innings in his start against the Phillies
Phillies @ Padres#ForTheFaithful | July 11, 2025 pic.twitter.com/KTDe64NgUi
Bergert finished the game with seven strikeouts, three hits (two home runs), two earned runs, and two walks in his 4.2 innings of action. The Canton, Ohio, native last played for WVU during the shortened 2020 season before getting drafted in 2021. Making his major league debut earlier this season, Bergert has put together some pretty nice numbers in his time with the Padres. In 31.2 innings of work, Bergert has posted a 2.84 ERA with 30 strikeouts, while posting a 1.13 WHIP and a .193 batting average against.
While in Morgantown, Bergert played two seasons for the Mountaineers (2019-2020) and averaged a 2.30 ERA in his career in his 58.2 innings pitched. Bergert also accumulated 68 strikeouts and four wins over those 58.2 innings.
It is great for WVU baseball to see such success stories at the highest level for former Mountaineers. Bergert is just one of several former Mountaineers who are currently playing well at the highest levels of professional baseball.