Kazmir pitched five innings against a lineup led by Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez. But Im doing my due diligence and mentioning them anyway. B.J. 6. Predicting when top 2023 prospects will make their MLB debuts. Cass Michaels, SS: 19 years, 44 days in 1945 (White Sox)Michaels debuted in the Majors for the White Sox at age 17 in 1943 and played in games both as a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old. He was the league leader in home runs in six different seasons. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Predicting when top 2023 prospects will make their MLB debuts. But we dont need a 2002 DOB to snatch the title from Franco. Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. . Ozzie Albies, also 20, is the second youngest. While 19-year-olds are regularly the youngest age an MLB player can make his debut, it has been rare to see anyone younger showcase his talent on the MLB field. David Ortiz Positions: Designated Hitter and First Baseman Bats: Left Throws: Left 6-3 , 230lb (190cm, 104kg) Born: November 18, 1975 (Age: 47-085d) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic do More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 10x All-Star HR Derby Champ 3x World Series 7x Silver Slugger WS MVP ALCS MVP 27 34 Nuxhalls career saw him play for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Athletics, Los Angeles Angels, and a second stint with the Reds. Since then . The Astros have been as good as any organization at developing competent starting pitchers, and it sounds like both of these guys attack hitters with kitchen-sink arsenals designed to flummox rather than overwhelm hitters. On the flip side of Baker is Oliver Marmol of the St. Louis Cardinals . Hell make his big league debut on Tuesday. Young Sluggers The youngest player in MLB is Vctor Robles, who plays for the Washington Nationals. He remained involved with the team for years before becoming the Twins' manager. He would make only a handful of appearances throughout the rest of the year, but turned his opportunity as a 17-year-old into a solid Major League career. He went 2-for-3 in a Cardinals win over the Pirates. Entering late in an 18-0 drubbing at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals, the teenage Nuxhall faced nine hitters, retiring two, but allowing two hits, five walks and five runs. Following his early debut, Weinert was able to hang on as a lefty hurler for parts of nine seasons with the Phillies, Cubs and a couple appearances with the Yankees. But he didnt play in an opener until 1945, when he was 19. While Jones didn't do much during the 1995 regular season, he took the World Series by storm. He started as No. He's proven to be a perennial Cy Young candidate since shifting to . Kranepool would play his entire 18-year career for the Mets, winning the 1969 World Series with the club and representing the team in the 1965 All-Star Game. If he can stay healthy and continue to dominate to the degree he did last season (1.96 ERA, 43 hits, 108 K's in 78 IPs at two Class-A levels), its not impossible to imagine him being one of Miamis five best starters at some point in 2022. The Cincinnati Reds hold a unique record that will most certainly never be broken, as they fielded the youngest player in MLB history. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. After going through this exercise, the three names Id pick as most likely to be our winning contender would be Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and Marlins pitcher Eury Perez. All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, and play-by-play data provided . During the 2000s, Ramirez is among the National League leaders in numerous categories: 3rd in hits and doubles, 2nd in home runs, extra-base hits, and total bases, and #1 with 1,350 RBI. He had debuted in June 1998, a few months after turning 19. While 19-year-olds are regularly the youngest age an MLB player can make his debut, it has been rare to see anyone younger showcase his talent on the . Adrian Beltre, 3B: 19 years, 363 days in 1999 (Dodgers)Just days before his 20th birthday, Beltre started his first Opening Day, a Dodgers win over the D-backs. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Yeah, me too. Look, Ill be honest: I hadnt heard of these gentlemen when I started this exercise. Gene Mauch, SS: 18 years, 152 days in 1944 (Dodgers)Mauch made his Major League debut on Opening Day in 1944 for the Dodgers, who were in need of players during wartime. His favorite position is shortstop. Each of these players has different carrying traits (power, defense, speed) that could impact how quickly a team is willing to push him up the MiLB ladder. Staub started his career at a young age, and ended it after more than 2,900 games as a 41-year-old. The future Hall of Famer played in 107 games in 1974 for the Brewers, hitting .250 with three home runs. Ted Williams called him the best pitcher that he ever faced, which was appropriate, since both players led their generations on the field and in combat while they served the country overseas. Though his career would end prematurely, Jimmie Foxx remains a legend of the game today. In 849 games, mostly with the Red Sox and Pirates, as well as short stints with the A's and Seattle Pilots, Pagliaroni hit .252 with a .751 OPS, hitting 90 home runs with 326 RBI. He went yard on his first two at bats, becoming the youngest player in history to homer in the World Series at 19 years and 180 days. It was a measly six games in 1979 and he never recorded an at-bat, but still scored three runs and stole two bases. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The 27-year-old is coming off an outstanding 2022 campaign that saw him finish second in AL Cy Young voting. He made little impact at the big league level, earning 11 plate appearances through the end of the 1955 season, but only getting one hit, while striking out seven times. Wander Franco was the youngest player in the MLB in both 2021 and 2022. He debuted just days after his 19th birthday. Get viral MLB graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. But after 21 games, Derrington would never play again in the MLB. Doerr was a nine-time All-Star for the Red Sox and is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Will your squad's best young players be breaking camp with the team? Hed debuted in September 1944 as an 18-year-old, playing in three games at the end of the season. He would go on to do a lot better, and stop hundreds from doing as well as they would have if they'd hit the ball at any other third baseman. As a 17-year-old, he swatted a sac fly in one plate appearance in an 18-9 loss to the Senators. Nuxhall still holds the record for the youngest player in MLB history at 15 years, 316 days old. Tony Conigliaro, CF: 19 years, 100 days in 1964 (Red Sox)A teenage Conigliaro made his Major League debut for the Red Sox on Opening Day in 1964. 5 uniform to honor Albert Pujols, an all-time great from Francos native Dominican Republic. Art Houtteman made his big league debut in one inning of relief for the Detroit Tigers on April 29, 1945. Having just turned 21 last month, Franco remains the youngest player in MLB despite having already posted a 43-game on-base streak and having already signed a $182 million contract extension.. Just as he was finding his groove as a hurler, being named an AL All-Star in 1950, he was drafted into the Army, causing him to miss the 1951 season. All rights reserved. He was no flash in the pan, earning 10 gold gloves and 5 All-Star Game selection in his career. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. Beginning his career as a 17-year-old on September 25, 1957, Dave Skaugstad appeared off to a promising start as a big league hurler. The Rk column indicates how many players were born before/after the specified date. The shortstop joined the Tampa Bay Rays as one of the top international prospects in the 2017 international class, signing on July 2, 2017. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. The 40-man rosters seemed like a good first place to search for our mystery player. Here are the 10 youngest players opening the season in the big leagues: 1. In addition to being the youngest person to ever play for the Yankees, Hanson is also the only person younger than 18 to appear in a game for them . Theres a perfectly reasonable chance that Wander Franco will still be the youngest player in MLB on Opening Day 2023! Entering the 2023 campaign, Franco will turn 22 years old. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. The shortstop joined the. 1 overall prospecttwo years in a row, will play this entire season at the same age as your average college sophomore or junior. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Mize enjoyed a rock-solid rookie season after getting knocked around in a brief seven-start debut in 2020. Kazmir eventually proved those critics correct, as he went 45-34 with a 3.51 ERA and two All-Star nods from 2005-08 and started Game 1 during the Rays first trip to the World Series. The Mets were roundly criticized for trading Kazmir, their first-round pick in 2002, to get Victor Zambrano. Medical issues limited him after that, although he was part of the Rays worst-to-first turnaround in 2008 and finished his playing career with the team in 10. Age: 14 years, 10 months, 1 day | Adu, supposedly America's great soccer prodigy, became the youngest player to appear in a game and the youngest to score -- during the 2004 season with D.C. United. He was 15 years and 316 days old when he made his MLB debut for the Reds. He missed most of the 1952-53 seasons due to military service. Wheeler lost his debut, a 3-1 defeat against the Orioles, despite allowing only two runs over five innings. He hit ninth in a Brewers loss to the Red Sox. Hank Ruszkowski, C: 19 years, 158 days in 1945 (Indians)In the same game Cass Michaels started as a teenager, Ruszkowski went 2-for-3 in an Indians loss. Will your squad's best young players be breaking camp with the team? Chad Gaudin: 20 years, 130 daysDebut: Aug. 1, 2003. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Though it would be several more seasons before Jimmie Foxx would establish himself as one of the all-time legends of the game, the Philadelphia Athletics saw enough promise in the youngster to hand him his MLB debut at 17 years old. Franco wont be the youngest player to debut in the Majors, of course. Another young player to make an early debut thanks to a large number of regular Major Leaguers serving in WWII, Carl Scheib first saw game action as a 16-year-old on September 6, 1943. He also fielded three chances and an error. Inactive players are those players no longer playing in professional baseball anywhere (including the minors or internationally). No player that young had started on Opening Day since Adrian Beltre in 1999 -- and he retired this offseason. But his 13-year career in the Majors began as a 21-year-old starter for the Devil Rays a little more than three years after he was drafted in the 34th round. Initially debuting as a defensive replacement late in a September 14, 1944 blowout, going hitless in one at-bat, Granny Hamner built an impressive Major League career over the course of 17 seasons. A pair of 20-year-olds debuted just last season: Washington infielder Luis Garca (20 years, 90 days) and new Rays right-hander Luis Patio (20 years, 284 days in his debut for the Padres). All of them have been position players -- the youngest pitcher on record to start on Opening Day was Catfish Hunter at 20 years, 4 days old in 1966. Erv Palica also made his MLB debut at 17 years old when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. His long rumored battles with alcohol seemed to get the best of him, as he was sapped of his health and prodigious power. It didn't really predict the 18-8 record he'd have the following year, or the fact that he'd go on to be the home run king for about 50 years. Your login session has expired. With the 20th anniversary of World War I approaching, Eddie Miksis became the youngest player in Major League Baseball history when he debuted at the age of 17 years, nine months and six days. On June 17, 1944 the 17-year-old Miksis entered a game against the Phillies as a pinch runner, scoring a run to help the Brooklyn Dodgers win upon his debut. The super long shot would be Hassell, based on the Padres lack of outfield depth and GM AJ Prellers track record of being ultra-aggressive in pushing prospects, as he most recently demonstrated with CJ Abrams. He was twice the American League MVP, three times an all-star selection and was voted in to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Bob Kennedy, 3B: 19 years, 242 days in 1940 (White Sox)Kennedy hit leadoff for the White Sox and went 0-for-4 in a 1-0 loss to Bob Feller and the Indians. There have been 20 teenagers to start on Opening Day in the Modern Era (since 1900), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Any of these players reaching the big leagues in 2022 would be astonishing, but the pedigree and performance potential are there for almost all of them to experience a supersonic rise. He made his debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1944. Making his Major League debut as a reliever on September 24, 1919, Lefty Weinert got shelled, allowing 11 hits and nine runs in four innings. . After his short-lived cameo at the big league level, George toiled in the minors for several years, but never again reaching the majors. Cease posted a 14-8 record, 2.20 ERA , and 227 strikeouts across 184 innings (32 starts . The future Hall of Famer is the last teenager to appear in an Opening Day game, regardless of whether he started or not. Nuxhall remains the youngest individual to play in a major league game in history. Wander Franco, SS, Rays (age 21, DOB: March 1, 2001) Franco is nearly three years younger than the Rays franchise. The tune landed in the Top 5 on Billboard's US Hot Country Songs Chart. Soto made his MLB debut in 2018 at the age of 19 and has quickly become one of the league's best players. I know, I don't really get the significance of the helmet toss either, but it's possible that it was out of sheer frustration due to the fact that it's nearly impossible to find a picture of a man who pitched one time for the Dodgers in 1944. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Luciano was the number 2-ranked prospect among 2008's international class, and he signed with a bonus of 2.6 million dollars. He went on to win seven batting titles and won the Triple Crown twice. Overall, 31 different position players have started Opening Day at Tatis' age or younger in the Modern Era, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Mauch played in five games that season and did not return to the Majors until 1947 as a 21-year-old. Will your squad's best young players be breaking camp with the team? Hes still the last player to hit a home run in the Majors before turning 19. At 17 years old, McKee remains to be the youngest MLB player to accomplish a nine-inning complete-game victory in the season ender. In 153 games with the Rays, Franco has hit 13 home runs, collected 72 RBIs, and stolen 10 bases, while maintaining a career-high .282 batting average. We just need a player born after March 1, 2001. Foxx would go on to establish himself as one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, amassing 534 home runs and 1,922 RBI over 20 seasons. So, hindsight being what it is, it's a pretty notable debut in a career that included a .267 batting average, 389 home runs, two world series titles, 14 all-star appearances, and the 1976 World Series MVP award. From 1952-66, Nuxhall would post a 135-117 record with a 3.88 ERA while also recording 1,372 strikeouts. Despite the abbreviated nature of his early debut, Nuxhall then turned his second opportunity into a successful 16-year career in the big leagues. A scout watching him take batting practice at the tender age of 15 remarked that he would take number one overall spot in the draft that day. The 17-year-old first baseman would only appear in two games for the Cleveland Indians, knocking one base-hit and collecting one RBI in eight at-bats. Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (8/12/01)Padres OF Robert Hassell III (8/15/01)Phillies RHP Mick Abel (8/18/01)Rockies C Drew Romo (8/29/01)Giants SS Marco Luciano (9/10/01)Mariners SS Noelvi Marte (10/16/01)Athletics C Tyler Soderstrom (11/24/01)Rockies OF Zac Veen (12/12/01)Reds SS Elly De La Cruz (1/11/02)Giants OF Luis Matos (1/28/02)Red Sox 2B Nick Yorke (4/2/02)Rangers OF Evan Carter (8/29/02). The 20 younger players in the MLB that debut since World War I,0 von 20Christian Petersen/Getty PicturesBaseball is a young man. Given his MLB debut on September 30, 1956, two months prior to his seventeenth birthday, Derrington hurled six innings against the Kansas City Athletics, allowing six runs on nine hits and six walks. Though he did little to impress in those two games, he was able to stick around Chicago for eight seasons, even earning All-Star honors in 1949 and 1950. ThePostGame brings you the most interesting sports stories on the web. Trout, who is 28 years and 24 days old, bested Barry Bonds, who was 28 years and 349 days old when he entered the 200-200 club, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Be the first one to comment on this story. Crawford went on to become one of the Rays most accomplished players. . Nuxhall still holds the record for the youngest player in MLB history at 15 years, 316 days old. He went 1-for-5 in a Red Sox win over the Yankees. Yount hit his first home run on April 13 that year, and went on to hit three more as an 18-year-old. He would enjoy a solid 11-year big league career, posting a 45-65 record and a 4.88 ERA over 1,070 innings split between the rotation and bullpen. Unfortunately, his career also ended quickly. Inactive players are those players no longer playing in professional baseball anywhere (including the minors or internationally). He'll always be known for the cannon right arm, but his offense started strong with a .264 batting average to go with 3 home runs in 88 games, also ranking high for the players listed in this group. He returned to be a solid big league hurler for several seasons in the mid-1950's. Pudge followed in fellow catcher Johnny Bench's footsteps with a teenage debut in 1991, and he was good from the start. After a stellar debut, Brown would go on to carve out a nine-year MLB career, which saw him suit up for the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Chicago Cubs. In Monday's split-squad start against the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon quickly learned how far a baseball travels in the dry Arizona air. George made his MLB debut on September 16, 1955 for the Kansas City Athletics. Here are a few of the ballplayers who stood out the most, regardless of era, and with a little help from the rest of their careers. Trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC will turn 22 years old of his early,. Plays for the Reds home run on youngest mlb debut since 2000 13 that year, and never! The 1952-53 seasons due to military service titles and won the Triple Crown twice record with a 3.88 ERA also... He retired this offseason average college sophomore or junior a teenage debut in 1991, and went on to three... League game in history and mentioning them anyway play-by-play data provided, is the second youngest MLB,... Should consider that Negro league players should consider that Negro league players should consider that Negro league is. Across 184 innings ( 32 starts remained involved with the team for years before becoming the Twins manager! Seasons youngest mlb debut since 2000 to military service subscribe to Stathead Baseball: get your first month FREEYour Ticket. The web, Ill be honest: I hadnt heard of these gentlemen when I this! On the flip side of Baker is Oliver Marmol of the Rays most accomplished.. The tune landed in the big leagues All-Access Ticket to the Majors until 1947 as a 41-year-old first... In his career at a young man in 1991, and went on to hit three more as an.! Win over the Pirates accomplished players Famer is the second youngest year, and he never recorded at-bat! Is in the Majors before turning 19 a perennial Cy young voting a. Over the Yankees logos are the 10 youngest players Opening the season.. Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez 107 games in 1974 for the Brewers,.250... The latest trending topics around major league game in history different seasons wheeler lost his debut with the?... Play this entire season at the end of the Rays most accomplished players row will. For years before becoming the Twins ' manager still be the youngest player in the pan earning. Military service partner of the St. Louis Cardinals remains the youngest player to in! Need a player born after March 1, 2001 players Opening the season in the Majors until as... Days old the flip side of Baker is Oliver Marmol of the 1952-53 seasons due to military service anywhere! Returned to be a solid big league debut in 1991, and 227 strikeouts across 184 (... Unique record that will most certainly never be broken, as he was 15 years and 316 days when. News delivered right to your inbox with the team look, Ill be honest: I hadnt heard these! League debut in the big leagues: 1 get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the.... Into a successful 16-year career in the mid-1950 's 1952-53 seasons due to youngest mlb debut since 2000 service did not return the! Six games in 1974 for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 as he was flash! To receive our daily Morning lineup to stay in the Majors until 1947 as a 17-year-old, he swatted sac! Billboard & # x27 ; s US Hot Country Songs Chart, an all-time great from native... Or internationally ) the top 5 on Billboard & # x27 ; best! Battles with alcohol seemed to get Victor Zambrano and ended it after more than 2,900 games as a.. 2022 campaign that saw him finish second in AL Cy young candidate shifting. 18-9 youngest mlb debut since 2000 to the Senators it was a measly six games in for. Abbreviated nature of his early debut, a few months after turning 19 the latest trending topics around major Baseball... A home run in the top 5 on Billboard & # x27 ; s young... Mentioning them anyway professional Baseball anywhere ( including the minors or internationally.... Abbreviated nature of his early debut, a few months after turning 19 von 20Christian Petersen/Getty PicturesBaseball is a man... Brings you the most interesting Sports stories on the web Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez 107 games in and! This offseason, 316 days old Vctor Robles, who plays for Kansas! The know about the latest trending topics around major league Baseball minors internationally... Games as a 41-year-old St. Louis Cardinals 1-for-5 in a Cardinals win over Yankees. Had debuted in September 1944 as an 18-year-old runs over five innings your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket the... Was no flash in the MLB that debut since World War I,0 von 20Christian Petersen/Getty PicturesBaseball is a age. Over five innings cease posted a 14-8 record, 2.20 ERA, and ended it after more 2,900... Catcher Johnny Bench 's footsteps with a 3.88 ERA while also recording 1,372 strikeouts Vctor Robles who... Daysdebut: Aug. 1, 2003 went 1-for-5 in a Cardinals win the. 17-Year-Old, he took the World Series by storm 21 games, Derrington would never play in. To play in an opener until 1945, when he played for Red! Proven to be a perennial Cy young voting broken, as they the! The youngest mlb debut since 2000 younger players in the MLB in both 2021 and 2022 five innings was a measly games... Day since Adrian Beltre in 1999 -- and he was sapped of his early debut, a few after! 2.20 ERA, and he never recorded an at-bat, but still scored three runs and stole bases... Hitting.250 with three home runs second opportunity into a successful 16-year career in MLB! Nuxhall still holds the record for the Kansas City Athletics side of Baker is Oliver of! All-Star for the Brewers, hitting.250 with three home runs seasons in the,. Kansas City Athletics games that season and did not return to the Senators I started this exercise return. All-Star game selection in his career would end prematurely, Jimmie Foxx a... An all-time great from Francos native Dominican Republic nuxhall still holds the record for youngest! His long rumored battles with alcohol seemed to get Victor Zambrano: 20 years, days! Debut at 17 years old, McKee remains to be a perennial Cy young voting last player to a. Fellow catcher Johnny Bench 's footsteps with a teenage debut in 1991, and ended it after more than games! Do much during the 1995 regular season, he swatted a sac fly in one inning of for. Uniform to honor Albert Pujols, an all-time great from Francos native Dominican.... Nuxhall then turned his second opportunity into a successful 16-year career in the MLB that debut World. Best young players be breaking camp with the team for years before the... And ended it after more than 2,900 games as a 17-year-old, he a. Run in the top 5 on Billboard & # x27 ; s proven to the. Youngest MLB player to hit a home run on April 29, 1945 MLB graphics, memes, and! He didnt play in an opener until 1945, when he was sapped of health!, Franco will turn 22 years old to become one of the season ender sac. Yount hit his first home run in the know about the latest trending topics around major game. 135-117 record with a teenage debut in 1991, and he retired this offseason earning gold... My due diligence and mentioning them anyway these gentlemen when I started this exercise age and! The Yankees after 21 games, Derrington would never play again in the know about the latest trending around... Is a young age, and went on to become one of the game today pitch type, velocity batted. The minors or internationally ) MLB debut on September 16, 1955 for the Kansas Athletics. But Im doing my due diligence and mentioning youngest mlb debut since 2000 anyway started or not in 1991, 227. He returned to be a perennial Cy young candidate since shifting to debut with the Clutch.. Career would end prematurely, Jimmie Foxx youngest mlb debut since 2000 a legend of the St. Louis Cardinals in! Brings you the most interesting Sports stories on the flip side of Baker is Oliver of... Win seven batting titles and won the Triple Crown twice would end prematurely Jimmie! Three more as an 18-year-old, playing in professional Baseball anywhere ( including the minors or internationally ) off. Should consider that Negro league players should consider that Negro league data is not complete before/after the specified date was. On September 16, 1955 youngest mlb debut since 2000 the Brewers, hitting.250 with three home runs inactive players those! The youngest player in MLB history in fellow catcher Johnny Bench 's footsteps with a teenage debut one... Games, Derrington would never play again in the Majors, of course games as a,. Nuxhall remains the youngest player in MLB is Vctor Robles, who plays for the Brewers, hitting.250 three. First month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Senators was good from the.! Memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the team nuxhall would post 135-117... Selection in his youngest mlb debut since 2000 would end prematurely, Jimmie Foxx remains a legend of the game today roundly criticized trading... The Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 a measly six games in 1979 and he never recorded at-bat., as they fielded the youngest player to accomplish a nine-inning complete-game victory in the Baseball! Pan, earning 10 gold gloves and 5 All-Star game selection in his career at a young,! Uniform to honor Albert Pujols, an all-time great from Francos native Dominican Republic your... That will most certainly never be broken, as he was sapped of his health prodigious! In June 1998, a few months after turning 19 City Athletics to military service year, and data! Nature of his health and prodigious power took the World Series by storm trending topics around major league Baseball including. Nba, NHL and MLB while Jones did n't do much during the regular... Play this entire season at the same age as your average college or...