Call to the pen
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MLB Debut: Toronto Blue Jays trio leads week’s debuts

By Benjamin Chase

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Sean Reid-Foley receives a visit to the mound from pitching coach Pete Walker in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Sean Reid-Foley receives a visit to the mound from pitching coach Pete Walker in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Blue Jays
PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 16: Kevin Newman #27 of the Pittsburgh Pirates makes his Major League Debut in the ninth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on August 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Austin Dean, OF, Miami; Kevin Newman, SS, Pittsburgh; Aristides Aquino, OF, Cincinnati

Considered one of the better athletes in the Texas high school draft class in 2012, Austin Dean was selected by the Marlins in the 4th round, but his raw athleticism has taken time to develop into mature baseball skills.

Dean’s drastic reduction in strikeouts this year has resulted in an impressive performance in AA/AAA, with a .345/.410/.511 line with 12 home runs and a 39/56 BB/K over 446 PA. He debuted Wednesday against the Braves and went 0-3, and his first week did not go so well, as he hit .176/.222/.412, but he did hit a home run and put up a multi-hit game on Sunday.

As part of a very highly-touted college shortstop class in 2015, Kevin Newman had some scouts who liked him even over Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman in that year’s class, but he’s struggled to produce in the minor leagues before this season.

With AAA Indianapolis this season, Newman has hit .302/.350/.407 with 30 doubles and 28 stolen bases, posting a 31/50 BB/K ratio over 477 plate appearances. While he debuted Friday against the Cubs, Newman was only utilized as a pinch runner or defensive replacement over the weekend, still waiting for his first official plate appearance.

Incredibly gifted as an athlete, the 6’4″, 210-220 pound Aristides Aquino strikes the pose of an incredible athlete just looking at him, and he’s really struggled to get those raw athletic tools into baseball skills.

He’s struggling with that, repeating AA this year, hitting .249/.313/.452 with 18 home runs and a 33/103 BB/K ratio over 416 plate appearances. He made his MLB debut Sunday against San Francisco as a pinch hitter, striking out in his only plate appearance.

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