It's not often one school's alumni are on both sides of the same roster transaction. But that's exactly what happened in Houston this week, when the Astros placed left-hander Steven Okert on the 15-day injured list — retroactive to September 1 — with a right hamstring strain, and immediately recalled fellow McNeese State southpaw Bryan King from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill the vacancy.
The symmetry is hard to ignore: two Cowboys, one move, one big-league job changing hands.
Okert had been one of Houston's more dependable bullpen arms before the injury, described by Yahoo Sports as "one of the team's most durable and consistent relievers." A hamstring strain is rarely a quick heal, and with September rosters already expanded, the Astros needed a capable left-handed arm in a hurry. King was the answer.
King Gets His Shot
Bryan King wasted little time making his presence felt. Called up to the majors, the left-hander logged a clean inning of work Saturday, September 5, against the Diamondbacks, pitching to a 4.67 ERA on the season. The opportunity is a significant one — September call-ups are often auditions for roster spots heading into the following year, and King is now pitching in a meaningful pennant-race environment with a chance to make a lasting impression.
Anderson Quietly Carving Up the NL
While the Astros storyline dominated the week's McNeese headlines, Grant Anderson continued to make a quiet case as one of Milwaukee's steadier bullpen options. The Brewers right-hander appeared twice during the period — tossing two innings with two strikeouts against the Rangers on August 30, then following up Saturday against the Reds with another inning of work, striking out two more. He did surrender an earned run in each outing, but his ERA now sits at a respectable 3.51, a number that reflects a consistently solid season in Milwaukee's relief corps.
Dion Locks Down a Future in Washington
Away from the box scores, McNeese product Will Dion got some notable longer-term recognition. A Yahoo Sports breakdown of the Washington Nationals' bullpen identified Dion as one of three relievers who has "locked down a spot" in the 2027 roster, alongside Orlando Ribalta and Brad Lord. The piece pointed to Dion's 3.38 ERA as evidence of a pitcher who has earned organizational trust. His most recent outing during the period — three innings, one strikeout against the Marlins on August 31 — was another efficient showing that reinforces that case.
It's a quietly remarkable week for McNeese State: an alumnus injured, another promoted in his place, a third cementing himself in a contender's bullpen, and a fourth locking down a future role in a rebuilding organization. Lake Charles doesn't get a lot of MLB spotlight — but right now, Cowboys alumni are all over the league's rosters and storylines.
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