2021 MLB DEBUT THREAD

through 2020, only 19,902 players have ever appeared in an MLB game. no matter how a career ends up, reaching MLB for any amount of time is an extraordinary achievement. this thread celebrates every big league debut as we approach MLB player #20,000

19,903rd player in MLB history: Kyle Isbel

- All-Star in 2017 Cape Cod League
- 3rd round pick in '18 out of UNLV
- struggled with injuries in '19 but returned to have a great Fall League
- more raw power than HR totals suggest
- good defender in all 3 OF spots

19,904th player in MLB history: Jonathan India

- 26th round pick out of HS by MIL in '15; didn't sign, went to Florida
- won national championship in 2017
- monster junior season5th overall pick by CIN in '18
- played mostly 3B, some SS in college/MiLB; now playing 2B

19,905th player in MLB history: Tucupita Marcano

- named after the town where he was born in Venezuela
- limited power but ++ contact skills
- good defender at 2B/SS/3B
- .395 AVG in '18: 2nd-highest AZL AVG since '06 behind only CJ Abrams
- 6th player born in '99 to debut w/ SD

19,906th player in MLB history: Ha-seong Kim

- 133 HR/134 SB in his 7-year KBO career w/ Kiwoom Heroes, all before turning 25
- played mostly SS, some 3B in KBO
- signed 4-year/$28M deal w/ Padres in Dec. '20
- 5th hitter to start career in KBO and sign w/ MLB team

19,907th player in MLB history: Brett de Geus

- 33rd round pick by LAD in '18 out of Cabrillo College (junior college in CA)
- moved to bullpen in '19 = stuff ticked up = dominated (1.75 ERA in 61.2 IP in A-ball, then great in Fall League)
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
- it's de-GUS

19,908th player in MLB history: Taylor Trammell

- / star in HS; ran for 36 TD senior year
- 1st round pick by CIN in '16
- MVP of '18 Futures Game
- traded to SD in July '19, then SEA in Aug '20
- it's truh-MELL, not like HOFer (although Taylor jokes that Alan is his uncle)

19,909th player in MLB history: Ka'ai Tom

- same HS in HI as Benny Agbayani, Tua Tagovailoa
- NJCAA All-American at Fort Scott Community College (KS) in '13, then transferred to Kentucky
- 5th round pick by CLE in '15
- .912 OPS across AA/AAA in '19
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20

19,910th player in MLB history: Will Vest

- went to Stephen F. Austin as a SS; started as a FR after Hunter Dozier was drafted
- converted to P in '15
- Tommy John surgery in '16
- dominant reliever as a redshirt junior
- 12th round pick by DET in '17
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20

19,911th player in MLB history: Chas McCormick

- 21st round pick in '17 as a senior out of D-II Millersville (PA) where he is the all-time leader in hits, runs, RBI
- .818 OPS across AA/AAA in '19
- can play all three OF spots
- was on 2020 ALDS roster but never got into a game

19,912th player in MLB history: Hirokazu Sawamura

- Central League ROY in '11 w/ Yomiuri Giants
- was a starter until '15, has been a reliever since
- 2.77 ERA in 868.1 career IP in NPB
- mostly FB/SPL
- signed 2 year/$2.4M deal w/ BOS in Feb. '21

19,913th player in MLB history: Andrew Vaughn

- undrafted out of HSone of the best hitters in college baseball history
- career NCAA line: .374/.495/.688
- 1 of only 6 underclassmen ever to win Golden Spikes Award
- 3rd overall pick by CHW in '19
- has only played 1B until now

19,914th player in MLB history: Ben Bowden

- dominant summer in Cape Cod League in '15 = Draft stock
- has been a reliever since freshman year at Vanderbilt
- 24th Commodore to reach MLB since David Price in '08
- 2nd round pick by COL in '16
- very good in AA/AAA in '19

19,915th player in MLB history: Chris Rodriguez

- 4th round pick out of HS in '16
- myriad injuries have limited him to just 77.2 pro innings but has always shown huge stuff when healthy
- 6th HS pitcher from '16 Draft to reach MLB (Anderson, Garrett, Luzardo, May, Wilson)

19,916th player in MLB history: Jordan Sheffield

- Tommy John surgery as a HS senior
- 13th round pick by BOS in '13; didn't sign
- 1st round pick by LAD in '16 out of Vanderbilt
- big-time FB/CB combo
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
- older brother of Mariners LHP Justus

19,917th player in MLB history: José Rojas

- born & raised in Anaheim as an Angels fan
- 2 years at Fullerton JC, transferred to Vanguard
- 1st-team NAIA All-American in '16
- 36th (!!!) round pick in '16
- SS in college; mostly 3B, some 1B/2B/LF in MiLB
- .938 OPS in AAA in '19

19,918th player in MLB history: Kohei Arihara

- '15 Pacific League ROY
- won Japan Series w/ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in '16
- 2-year, $6.2M deal w/ TEX in Dec. '20
- picked TEX in part because their FO showed an extremely detailed analysis of his pitching dating back to HS

19,919th player in MLB history: Trevor Stephan

- dominant sophomore year at Hill JC (TX) in relief
- 18th round pick by BOS in '16; didn't sign, transferred to Arkansas
- huge junior season as a SP3rd round pick by NYY in '17
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20; now back in the bullpen

19,920th player in MLB history: Jake Brentz

- 11th round pick by TOR in '13 out of HS
- traded to SEA in July '15
- traded to PIT in Sept. '16
- released by PIT in Aug. '19; signed by KC shortly after
- up to 100 as a LHP (!) w/ control issues but had a great ST to make the team

19,921st player in MLB history: Luis Oviedo

- signed w/ CLE in July '15 out of Venezuela; $375K bonus
- great '18 season put him on the prospect radar; bad '19 took him off it
- stuff has been electric at times, pedestrian at others
- Rule 5 by NYM then traded to PIT in Dec. '20

19,922nd player in MLB history: Paul Campbell

- 21st round pick by TB in '17 out of Clemson
- mostly a reliever in college, then started in pro ball, now back in the bullpen
- low strikeout rate but has elite spin rates on FB (despite average velo) & CB
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20

19,923rd player in MLB history: Zach Pop

- 23rd round pick by TOR in '14 out of Notre Dame SS (ON); didn't sign
- 7th round pick by LAD in '17 out of Kentucky
- traded to BAL in Machado deal in July '18
- Tommy John surgery in May '19
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
- nasty sinker

19,924th player in MLB history: Geraldo Perdomo

- signed w/ AZ in July '16 out of D.R.
- plus defense at SS
- switch-hitter; limited power but tremendous approach (more BB than K in MiLB)
- turns 22 in October; youngest D-backs position player to debut since Justin Upton in '07

19,925th player in MLB history: Akil Baddoo

- 2nd round pick by MIN out of Salem HS (GA) in '16
- Tommy John surgery in June '19
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
- has never played above A-ball but crushed it in Spring Training
- JUST WENT YARD ON THE FIRST MLB PITCH HE EVER SAW!!!

19,926th player in MLB history: Garrett Whitlock

- 18th round pick by NYY in '17 out of Alabama-Birmingham (only 2nd Blazer pitcher ever to reach MLB)
- excellent in '18 across three levels (1.86 ERA in 120.2 IP)
- Tommy John surgery in July '19
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20

19,927th player in MLB history: Tyler Wells

- 15th round pick by MIN in '16 out of Cal State San Bernardino
- Tommy John surgery in May '19
- has been a starter in college & MiLB, likely a reliever now
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
- large gent (listed at 6'8", 255 lb)

19,928th player in MLB history: Ryan McKenna

- 4th round pick in '15 out of St. Thomas Aquinas HS (NH)
- plus-plus speed, great defensive OF
- breakout '18 included a tremendous Fall League stint
- 1st hitter drafted + signed out of a New Hampshire HS to reach MLB; 4th overall

19,929th player in MLB history: Mac Sceroler

- 36th round pick by PHI in '16 as a Draft-eligible sophomore at Southeastern Louisiana; didn't sign
- 5th round pick by CIN in '17
- Rule 5 pick in Dec. '20
- nephew of former Oriole pitcher/current broadcaster Ben McDonald

19,930th player in MLB history: Kevin Padlo

- 5th round pick by COL in '15 out of Murrieta Valley HS in CA (HS teammates w/ Tyler Wade)
- traded to TB in Jan. '16 in McGee/Marquez/Dickerson deal
- big-time power; .927 OPS across AA/AAA in '19
- played mostly 3B, some 1B in MiLB

19,931st player in MLB history: Matt Peacock

- quit baseball for a year after arm surgery in '15 at South Alabama, then came back as a 23-year-old redshirt senior and got drafted
- 23rd round pick in '17
- highest groundball rate (67.7%) of all qualified MiLB pitchers in '19

19,932nd player in MLB history: Cody Wilson

- played freshman year at Palm Beach State College (JC in FL), then transferred to Florida Atlantic
- 13th round pick by WAS in '18
- plus-plus speed, fantastic defensive CF
- has never played above A-ball

19,933rd player in MLB history: Sam Clay

- 4th round pick by MIN in '14 out of Georgia Tech
- lowest HR/9 rate (0.14) of all MiLB pitchers from '14-'19 (min. 400 IP)
- at alt-site, on taxi squad in '20 but never reached MLB
- elected FA in Nov. '20, signed w/ WAS shortly after

19,934th player in MLB history: Luke Raley

- led '15 Northwoods League in HR w/ 14 (3 more than Tony Gonsolin)
- 7th round pick by LAD in '16 out of D-II Lake Erie College (OH)
- traded to MIN in July '18 in Brian Dozier deal
- traded back to LAD in Feb. '20 in Kenta Maeda deal

19,935th player in MLB history: Josh Palacios

- born & raised in Brooklyn, NY
- uncle Rey played 3 years in MLB w/ KC; younger brother Richie is INF prospect in CLE org
- freshman year at San Jacinto North (JC in TX), then transferred to Auburn
- 4th round pick by TOR in '16

19,936th player in MLB history: Ty Tice

- two-way player at Central Arkansas (appeared in 41 games as P; started 81 games in OF)
- 16th round pick by TOR in '17 as a P
- 2.09 ERA in 142.1 career IP w/ 155 K
- listed at 5'9"; T-2nd shortest active pitcher behind only Stroman

19,937th player in MLB history: Alan Trejo

- two-way player in HS and at San Diego State; a lot of teams liked him more as a pitcher in pro ball
- 16th round pick by COL in '17 as a hitter only
- .757 career OPS in MiLB
- has played mostly SS, some 2B/3B

19,938th player in MLB history: Alex Lange

- spectacular career at LSU (2.41 ERA in 350 IP w/ 406 K's; National Freshman Pitcher of the Year in '15)
- 1st round pick by CHC in '17
- traded to DET in Castellanos deal in July '19
- moved to bullpen after trade
- nasty FB/SL combo

19,939th player in MLB history: Brent Honeywell Jr.

- 2nd round pick in '14 out of Walters State CC
- '17 Futures Game MVP
- 4 elbow surgeries since March '18; last official game: 9/19/17
- throws a screwball; learned it from his dad's cousin, Mike Marshall (1974 NL Cy Young)

19,940th player in MLB history: Justin Steele

- 5th round pick in '14 out of George County HS (MS); $1M signing bonus to forgo commitment to Southern Miss
- Tommy John surgery in Aug. '17
- called up briefly in Sept. '20 but never got in a game
- mid-90's high-spin FB w/ good SL

19,941st player in MLB history: Eduard Bazardo

- signed w/ BOS in Sept. '14 out of Venezuela; $8,000 signing bonus
- velo in '20 from 91-93 to 94-97
- CB & SL have near-elite spin rates
- older brother Yorman pitched in MLB from '05-'09 (he was #16,276 in MLB history)

19,942nd player in MLB history: Ronnie Dawson

- all-state RB in HS, tore ACL as a junior, then focused on baseball
- teammates on '15 Orleans Firebirds in Cape Cod League w/ 9 other future MLBers
- 2nd round pick in '16 out of Ohio State
- plus speed/power, plays all 3 OF spots

19,943rd player in MLB history: Scott Hurst

- teammates w/ Jack Flaherty in travel ball & on Team USA;at '13 18U World Cup in Taiwan
- starred in Alaska Baseball League in '14 before he even started college
- 3rd round pick in '16 out of Cal State Fullerton
- good defensive CF

19,944th player in MLB history: Alex De Goti

- 3 years at Long Beach State without much playing time, then transferred to D-II Barry (FL) where he was a 2nd-team All-American as a senior
- 15th round pick in '16
- .790 OPS in AAA in '19
- has played mostly 2B/SS, some 3B in MiLB

19,945th player in MLB history: Camilo Doval

- signed w/ SFG in Sept. '15 out of D.R.; $100K bonus
- high-spin FB up to 100 MPH w/ crazy life + nasty SL at 84-87
- wild delivery w/ low 3/4 arm slot
- 233 K in 163.1 IP in MiLB, 0 above A-ball
- has always been a reliever

19,946th player in MLB history: Peter Solomon

- 21st round pick by SD in '14 out of HS; didn't sign, went to Notre Dame
- excellent in '16 Cape Cod League
- 4th round pick by HOU in '17
- Tommy John surgery in June '19
- has been both SP & RP
- FB up to 95; good secondary stuff

19,947th player in MLB history: Nick Maton

- solid freshman year at Eastern Illinois, then transferred to Lincoln Land CC (IL) where he was an NJCAA All-American as a sophomore
- 7th round pick in '17
- good defender at SS, can also play 2B/3B
- younger brother of CLE RHP Phil

19,948th player in MLB history: Sam Hentges

- 4th round pick in '14 out of Arden Hills HS (MN)
- third MN HS Draft pick to reach MLB this century (Joe Mauer, Brad Hand)
- Tommy John surgery in July '16
- mid-90's FB w/ great CB
- listed at 6'6" but definitely taller than that

19,949th player in MLB history: J.B. Bukauskas

- 20th round pick by ARI in '14 out of HS; didn't sign, went to UNC where he was a 1st team All-American as a junior
- 1st round pick by HOU in '15
- traded to ARI in Greinke deal in July '19
- mid-90's FB, SL & CH both flash plus

19,950th player in MLB history: Zack Short

- 17th round pick by CHC in '16 out of Sacred Heart (first Pioneer hitter ever to reach MLB)
- traded to DET for Cameron Maybin in Aug. '20
- great defender at SS, also 2B/3B
- co-host of The Compound podcast w/ Ian Happ & Dakota Mekkes

19,951st player in MLB history: Rodolfo Castro

- signed w/ PIT in Oct. '15 out of D.R.; $150K bonus
- switch-hitter w/ big power but a lot of swing and miss
- has played mostly 2B/SS, starting at 3B tonight
- youngest Pirate to play 3B since Aramis Ramírez
- 0 games above A-ball

19,952nd player in MLB history: Gregory Santos

- signed w/ BOS in Aug. '15 out of D.R.; $275K bonus
- traded to SFG in July '17 for Eduardo Núñez
- stuff was good early in career but then was exceptional at '20 instructs; FB now up to 100 w/ fantastic SL
- 0 innings above A-ball

19,953rd player in MLB history: Ryan Hendrix

- 17th round pick by CLE in '13 out of HS; didn't sign, went to Texas A&M
- played for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in '15
- 5th round pick by CIN in '16
- has always been a reliever
- FB 95-98 w/ excellent SL

19,954th player in MLB history: DJ Peters

- grew up a Dodgers fan in Glendora, CA
- 36th round pick by CHC in '14 out of HS; didn't sign, went to Western Nevada JC
- 4th round pick by LAD in '16
- California League MVP in '17
- huge dude, huge raw power; 92 HR in 455 MiLB games

19,955th player in MLB history: Corey Ray

- 33rd round pick by SEA in '13 out of Simeon HS (Chicago, IL); didn't sign, went to Louisville where he was a 2-time All-American
- 1st round pick by MIL in '16
- 27 HR/37 SB in AA in '18
- plus power/speed
- has played mostly CF

19,956th player in MLB history: Kent Emanuel

- 19th round pick by PIT in '10 out of HS; didn't sign, went to UNC and had a tremendous 3-year career
- 3rd round pick by HOU in '13
- Tommy John surgery in June '15
- spent '18 & '19 in AAA
- pitched well in LIDOM this past winter

19,957th player in MLB history: José Devers

- signed w/ NYY in July '16 out of D.R.; $250K bonus
- traded to MIA in Dec. '17 in Giancarlo Stanton deal
- strong defender at SS/2B; great contact skills w/ very little power (only 1 HR in 198 pro games)
- cousin of Red Sox 3B Rafael

19,958th player in MLB history: Jason Vosler

- 16th round pick by CHC in '14 out of Northeastern (first Huskies hitter to reach MLB since Carlos Peña)
- traded to SD in Nov. '18 for Rowan Wick
- elected FA, signed w/ SFG in Nov. '20
- .765 OPS in 630 MiLB G
- plays mostly 3B/1B

19,959th player in MLB history: Aaron Northcraft

- 10th round pick by ATL in '09 out of Mater Dei HS (CA)
- traded to SD in Justin Upton deal in Dec. '14
- missed all of '17/'18 w/ injuries
- came back in '19 as a sidearmer w/ SEA
- spent '20 ST w/ MIA
- signed w/ SD in Feb. '21

19,960th player in MLB history: Louis Head

- 18th round pick by CLE in '12 out of Texas State
- 7 years in CLE org, released in Aug. '18
- spent '19 w/ LAD, '20 ST w/ SEA
- was selling solar panels door-to-door in AZ last summer after being released
- signed w/ TB in Feb. '21

19,961st player in MLB history: Zac Lowther

- led Cape Cod League in K's in '16
- 2nd round pick in '17 out of Xavier (highest-drafted Musketeer ever)
- 2.26 ERA in 326 MiLB IP
- led Eastern League in K's in '19
- average velo but great extension makes FB play up; solid CH/CB

19,962nd player in MLB history: Bailey Falter

- was on USA Baseball's 15U National Team w/ Nick Madrigal, Nico Hoerner, Kyle Tucker in '12
- 5th round pick in '15 out of Chino Hills HS (CA); 2nd Chino Hills alum to reach MLB (Chris Parmelee)
- velo in '20 from 89-92 to 92-95

19,963rd player in MLB history: Hyeon-jong Yang

- 14 seasons w/ Kia Tigers in KBO
- '17 KBO MVP; 2-time Korean Series champion ('09, '17)
- originally posted for MLB teams in Nov. '14; TEX & MIN were interested but a deal wasn't reached
- signed w/ TEX in Feb. '21

19,964th player in MLB history: Trevor Megill

- Tommy John surgery in May '13 during sophomore season at Loyola Marymount
- 3rd round pick by STL in '14; didn't sign, went back for redshirt junior year
- 7th round pick by SD in '15
- Rule 5 pick by CHC in Dec. '19
- very large

19,965th player in MLB history: Jay Flaa

- spent freshman year at D-II Mary, then transferred to North Dakota State (where he was classmates w/ fellow Bismarck native Carson Wentz)
- 6th round pick in '15 as a senior; $10K bonus
- 20th North Dakota-born player in MLB history

19,966th player in MLB history: Justin Lawrence

- born in the Panama Canal Zone
- freshman year at Jacksonville as a traditional RP throwing mid-80's
- became a side-armer, started throwing mid-90's; transferred to Daytona Beach CC
- 12th round pick in '15
- now he throws 100+

19,967th player in MLB history: Ben Rortvedt

- 2nd round pick in '16 out of Verona HS (WI); good friends w/ fellow '16 WI HS pick Gavin Lux
- 2nd HS catcher drafted & signed from WI to reach MLB (Danny Jansen)
- strong defensive catcher w/ plus arm, receiving
- reached AA in '19

19,968th player in MLB history: Edwin Uceta

- signed w/ LAD in July '16 out of D.R.; $10K bonus
- reached AA in '19 as a 21-year-old
- solid FB w/ a plus change-up and good CB
- pitched well for Estrellas in LIDOM this past winter

19,969th player in MLB history: Nick Sandlin

- dominant reliever for first 2 years at Southern Miss
- excellent in Cape Cod League in '17
- moved to rotation junior year & had the lowest ERA (1.06) in all of D-I
- 2nd round pick in '18 as a reliever
- side-armer w/ crazy stuff