Call to the pen
Fansided

A look at the MLB debuts in 2017

By Benjamin Chase

May 6, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) follows through during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) follows through during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Amir Garrett, LHP, Rookie Davis, RHP, and Sal Romano, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

By far the most MLB debuts among major league teams has been with the Cincinnati Reds, which also makes their season record hovering around .500 all the more impressive, considering that a number of rookie-eligible players are also playing but had previously debuted.

The Reds opened their 2017 season with a rotation that consisted of Scott Feldman and four pitchers with 45 total starts in the major leagues. An early season injury brought veteran Bronson Arroyo to the rotation, but the Reds have predominantly gone with a very young rotation throughout the season.

Two of those rotation members have been lefty Amir Garrett and righty Rookie Davis (yes, ironic that he is a rookie…). Garrett has the prospect pedigree as a former top draft pick that would have been an even higher draft pick had he not had intentions of playing collegiate basketball. He’s focused on baseball only the last few years and shot up the Reds system as his tremendous stuff has allowed him to dominate hitters.

Davis was part of the Reds’ return for former closer Aroldis Chapman when they traded him to the New York Yankees. While he doesn’t have the prospect pedigree of Garrett, he is a solid pitcher in his own right.

Neither pitcher has had tremendous results on the season thus far as they sit with 5.18 and 7.58 ERAs, respectively, but they are both very talented players that should improve on those numbers with more major league experience.

Romano has also been in the mix of young arms this season, making just one start, filling in from AAA for one start. The big (6’5, 280 pounds) righty was originally a 23rd round draft pick out of high school and has worked his way up the Reds system. He could be a guy that the Reds choose to use much like they’re utilizing Michael Lorenzen, Raisel Iglesias, and Austin Brice, going multiple innings in appearances.

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