Pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes the most eagerly anticipated debut in decades before a sell-out crowd in Washington, DC

ByThis Day in Baseball

Pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes the most eagerly anticipated debut in decades before a sell-out crowd in Washington, DC. The recipient of the largest signing bonus in history lives up to his advance billing, striking out 14 while walking none in seven innings; the only batter to reach him is Delwyn Young, who connects for a two-run homer. The Nationals defeat Pittsburgh, 4 – 2, for Strasburg’s first major league win.

At the age of 20 years and 212 days, Mike Stanton becomes the second-youngest player to debut with the Marlins

ByThis Day in Baseball

At the age of 20 years and 212 days, Mike Stanton becomes the second-youngest player to debut with the Marlins, with Miguel Cabrera remaining the youngest by 149 days. The rookie right fielder’s impressive debut, 3-for-5 scoring two runs in Florida’s 10-8 loss to Philadelphia, is overshadowed by the much-anticipated start of Washington’s Wonder Boy, Stephen Strasburg, in the nation’s capital.

The Giants call up Buster Posey to start at first base, and the 23 year-old rookie responds going three-for-four with three RBIs in a 12-1 rout of the Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. The Leesburg, GA native, who will be selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Year at the end of the season, will not become the team’s starting catcher until Bengie Molina is traded to Texas at the end of June.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Giants call up Buster Posey to start at first base, and the 23 year-old rookie responds going three-for-four with three RBIs in a 12-1 rout of the Diamondbacks at AT&T Park. The Leesburg, GA native, who will be selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Year at the end of the season, will not become the team’s starting catcher until Bengie Molina is traded to Texas at the end of June.

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The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, with a 5 – 2 win over the Red Sox. A host of former Twins greats, including Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, joined by Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola, among others, are on hand to witness the historic game. Carl Pavano picks up the win while Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel pace the offence with three hits and two RBI each.

ByTom

The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, with a 5 – 2 win over the Red Sox. A host of former Twins greats, including Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, joined by Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola, among others, are on hand to witness the historic game. Carl Pavano picks up the win while Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel pace the offence with three hits and two RBI each.

Jason Heyward, the Minor League Player of the Year last year, starts his major league career with fireworks, connecting for a three-run home run off Carlos Zambrano in the 1st inning in front of 60 friends and family members at Turner Field as Atlanta cruises to a 16 – 5 win over the Cubs.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Jason Heyward, the Minor League Player of the Year last year, starts his major league career with fireworks, connecting for a three-run home run off Carlos Zambrano in the 1st inning in front of 60 friends and family members at Turner Field as Atlanta cruises to a 16 – 5 win over the Cubs.

Pat Venditte, the first ambidextrous pitcher in organized baseball since Greg Harris retired in 1995, gets to show his stuff in an exhibition game 

ByTom

Pat Venditte, the first ambidextrous pitcher in organized baseball since Greg Harris retired in 1995, gets to show his stuff in an exhibition game for the Yankees against the Braves. The 24-year-old ends the 5th inning by retiring Yunel Escobar on two pitches from the right side; he then moves from one arm to the other as he works his way through the Braves’ batting order in the 6th. When switch-hitter Brooks Conrad steps to the plate, home plate umpire Mike Reilly reminds Venditte of rule 8.01 that states that he must commit to one arm, in order to avoid the fiasco of his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees in 2008, when he and switch-hitter Ralph Henriquez Jr. changed sides repeatedly in a cat-and-mouse game. Venditte choses to face Conrad right-handed, and retires him on a ground ball to end his turn on the mound, Venditte will start the year with the Class-A Tampa Yankees, where he was 2-0, 2.21 in 21 games last year.

Eddie Kunz makes his debut.

Eddie Kunz makes his debut.

ByTom

August 3, 2008: Eddie Kunz, a 22 year old hard throwing right-hander, made his New York Mets debut against the Houston Astros. Kunz pitched a shutout inning. It would be one of only four MLB appearances he made during his short career. Kunz, the 2007 first round pick will finish his career with 2.2 innings pitched…

Cleveland rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff hits a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, on the first pitch

Cleveland rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff hits a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, on the first pitch

ByThis Day in Baseball

test On September 2, 2006, Joining Jeremy Hermida (Marlins, 2005) and Bill Duggleby (Phillies, 1898), Kevin Kouzmanoff becomes the third player in major league history to hit a grand slam in his first career at-bat. The Indians’ 25 year-old DH, filling in for the injured Travis Hafner, who hit six bases-juiced homers this season, tying…

Anaheim right-hander Jared Weaver makes his major league debut and pitches seven shutout innings
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Anaheim right-hander Jared Weaver makes his major league debut and pitches seven shutout innings

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 27, 2006, Anaheim right-hander Jared Weaver makes his major league debut and pitches seven shutout innings against the Orioles to win. Days earlier, Weaver had been called up from the minor leagues to take the spot ofhis older brother, Jeff, who was waived.