Arencibia’s Arrival
It took all of one pitch for Arencibia to make an impression. The Blue Jays catcher went deep on the first pitch he saw in “the Show,” crushing a James Shields fastball for a two-run homer. Arencibia added a double and single to his tally before homering again in the sixth inning. Unfortunately for Arencibia, his explosive debut did not translate to long-term success. He finished his major league career with a .212/.258/.412 slashline over six seasons.
A Starlin is Born
Starlin Castro was just 20 years old when the Cubs promoted him to the big leagues in 2010. The first major league player born in the 1990s, Castro hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat and later tripled with the bases loaded. The baby-faced infielder drove in a total of six runs in his debut, establishing a major league record for a player’s first game.
The Sensational Stephen Strasburg
Strasburg was under enormous pressure when he made his debut in June of 2010. The righty was one of the most heralded pitching prospects in history, and his arrival represented forward momentum for a Nationals franchise that had become synonymous with last-place finishes.
The number one overall pick of the 2009 draft was viewed as a generational talent, and anything less than excellence from the young hurler would have been considered a disappointment.
Somehow, Strasburg managed to surpass expectations in his first big league start. His fastball blazed with late life, his curveball darted out of the strike zone with expert precision, and his changeup played hide and seek with the Pirates batters. He fanned each of the last seven batters he faced, finishing his night with a team record 14 strikeouts.
Meet the Matz
“Holy shit!”
Bert Moller could not believe his eyes. His grandson, Steven Matz, had just lined a single with the bases loaded to bring home two runs. It was Matz’ third hit of the day, a noteworthy achievement for anyone making a major league debut. The accomplishment was truly remarkable because Matz was not a position player, but a pitcher who had been equally impressive on the mound that afternoon. Moller was so astounded by his grandson’s achievement that he slapped his head incredulously.
Moller had every reason to be impressed by his grandson’s performance. When his afternoon came to an end, Matz had allowed just two runs over seven-and-two thirds innings on the mound and gone three-for-three at the plate. The Long Island native and lifelong Mets fan set a team record for RBI in a major league debut with four.
Trevor Story’s First Chapter
The Rockies traded beloved shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in 2015, a move that would have made little sense if the club didn’t already have a replacement in mind. That replacement was Trevor Story, a similarly gifted fielder blessed with even more home run power than his predecessor.
Story’s first chapter was compelling. On Opening Day of the 2016 season, Story connected for two home runs off former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke.
Story did not stop slugging after just one game, however. His torrid first week as a big leaguer saw him become the first player to homer in four straight games to begin a career. The shortstop also became the first player to hit seven home runs through his team’s first six games.
Notable No-Hit Bids
In the 2010s, several pitchers came within reach of a no-hitter in their big league debut. For instance, the Dodgers’ Ross Stripling threw seven-and-a third no-hit innings in his first start before giving way to a reliever. Likewise, Daniel Ponce de Leon of the Cardinals threw seven no-hit innings in his 2018 debut but was removed due to a sizable pitch count. The 2018 season also saw Nick Kingham of the Pirates take a perfect game into the seventh inning in his first career appearance.
Searle’s Final Say
In the past, ballplayers faced a steep learning curve when they arrived in the majors. Today, however, more players are enjoying immediate success at the big league level. The game’s youth movement should continue into the 2020s, which means that we will witness several electrifying debuts in the decade to come.
