Kate Upton, Hannah Davis Among Notable MLB Wives, Girlfriends (Photos)

As the saying goes, behind every great man, there’s a great woman.

New faces on the mound, MVP prospects and rejuvenated lineups are all signs that the start of another Major League Baseball season is finally upon us. Major leaguers everywhere are preparing for Opening Day while their wives and girlfriends, or WAGS, prepare to cheer their beaus through what hopefully will be a successful season.

The 2014 regular season commences Monday, March 31, and there surely will be significant others in the stands. Some of these female counterparts know the ebbs and flows of the elongated MLB season like the back of their hands, while others might be weary of how a baseball season can alter a relationship.

Some MLB wives, like former “Survivor” contestant Heidi Hamels, are seasoned veterans of the WAG game. Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels married Heidi in 2006, and they have three sons — Caleb, Braxton and Reeve — who they adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage. Stephenie LaGrossa has an interestingly similar bio to Heidi Hamel, as she appeared on three seasons of “Survivor” and is married to Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander has been looking good in spring training, and his recent reunion with girlfriend Kate Upton might have something to do with that. New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter also was recently spotted with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Hannah Davis. Jeter recently said starting a family was one of the reasons he decided to retire after this season. Considering it didn’t work out with the other women on Jeter’s “Dating Diamond”, perhaps 23-year-old Davis is part of that family plan.

So, what do actresses, musicians, models and reality TV show contestants have in common? Apparently they all love ballplayers.