LAKE CHARLES – For the first time ever, McNeese Baseball will be represented in the MLB World Series when the Texas Rangers go up against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
 
But what's even better, there will be two former Cowboys on the team's 40-man squads – Jace Peterson with Arizona and Grant Anderson for Texas, meaning one player is guaranteed to win a World Series championship to mark the first Cowboy that will earn a title ring.
 
"We have two Cowboys on teams who are playing in the World Series! How awesome is that?" said McNeese head coach Justin Hill who coached Anderson from 2016-18. "They have both done it the hard way – going through all levels of the minor leagues and fighting through injuries and other challenges to help contribute to wins with the big league club.
 
"One interesting similarity they share is that both organizations traded for them at different points in their career. They saw something special in them as players and they have both added great value to the organization and their current team."
 
Peterson, a 2018 McNeese Sports Hall of Fame inductee and two-time All-Southland Conference selection during his playing days at McNeese from 2009-11, was acquired by the Diamondbacks from the Oakland A's at the end of July, going from one of the league's worst teams to the World Series. A 10-year MLB veteran, Peterson has appeared in 134 games this season, 93 with the A's and 41 with the Diamondbacks.
 
A Lake Charles native and 58^th overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft in round C-A by the San Diego Padres, Peterson has played with seven different MLB teams during his career. He made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Padres.
 
Anderson was a 21^st round pick in the 2018 draft by the Seattle Mariners and was traded to the Texas Rangers' organization in 2019. The Port Arthur, Texas native made his MLB on May 30 of this season and recorded the win over Detroit after throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out seven of the eight batters faced.
 
For the year, he's appeared in 26 games and has recorded a 2-1 mark and thrown 35.2 innings.
 
"Being a part of a great team is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have," said Hill. "This is a special moment in their lives and career, and I am so happy for them and their families."
 
The 2023 MLB World Series begins on Friday night in Arlington.