Feature Photo: Carson Fulmer, RHP, White Sox
In case you hadn’t been paying attention, there were only three days of Major League Baseball games this past week, due to some sort of exhibition thingie that was going on in San Diego. I have no idea. Don’t ask me. All I know is that they were wearing ugly brown and yellow costumes.
As a result, there were far fewer debuts this week than usual, and I know that my editor is breathing a deep sigh of relief at that news.
He is, however, also taking a deep breath in anticipation of having to edit a yooge midseason look at all sorts of fun factoids and anomalies about the 140 MLB debuts that WERE made before the All-Star break (the eight players listed below all debuted AFTER the All-Star break). You can look for that midseason “bonus” package later this week.
I will, however, tease you with a little tidbit … the last player to debut before the All-Star Break (Cardinals catcher Alberto Rosario) and the first player to debut AFTER the All-Star Break (Oakland third baseman Ryon Healy) share the same birthday – January 10.
Meanwhile, let’s introduce you to the eight guys who now get to call themselves major leaguers. And don’t worry, Buddy Baumann, even though you were sent back down to the minors you’ve more than earned your shot and YOU WILL BE BACK! You will NOT go down in history as having thrown ONE PITCH in the big leagues. Right, Padres?.
(Games from July 15-17, 2016)
American League Debuts
RYON HEALY, 3B, ATHLETICS:
Ht/Wt: 6’5” / 225 B/T: R/R BORN: January 10, 1992
ACQUIRED: Drafted in the third round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (University of Oregon).
CURRENT SEASON STATS: .326 with 14 homers and 64 RBIs in 85 games between Midland (Double-A) and Nashville (Triple-A) with 28 doubles and a .558 SLG.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Nashville July 15 when OF Billy Burns was sent down.
DEBUT: July 15, in an 8-7 win against the Toronto Blue Jays. The starting third baseman, Healy batted ninth and went 0-for-4. In his first at-bat, with two outs in the second inning, he struck out swinging against Marcus Stroman. In the fourth inning, he grounded into a force out to shortstop to end the inning, and grounded into an inning-ending double play in the sixth. In his final at-bat, he reached base by grounding into a force out.
PLAYER NOTES: A career .293 hitter in his pro career, which only started in mid-2013, he batted .302 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs in 124 games at Midland in 2015 so he has a solid bat and decent power but no speed whatsoever – so far, two stolen bases in a season has been his personal best.
ERIK GONZALEZ, SS, INDIANS:
Ht/Wt: 6’3” / 195 B/T: R/R BORN: August 31, 1991
ACQUIRED: Signed as an international free agent (Dominican Republic) on August 26, 2008.
CURRENT SEASON STATS: .296 with six homers, 39 RBIs and nine steals in 81 games at Columbus (Triple-A).
PROMOTED: Recalled from Columbus July 14 when LHP T.J. House was sent down.
DEBUT: July 16, in an 11-inning, 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Pinch-hitting for Tyler Naquin with two outs in the eighth inning, he struck out swinging against reliever Fernando Abad. Staying in the game in right field, he remained there on defense until the 11th inning when he was lifted for pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte.
PLAYER NOTES: A career .274 hitter in 681 career games, all as a member of the Indians’ organization, Gonzalez batted .255 with nine homers, 69 RBIs and 18 steals in 137 games in 2015 between Akron (Double-A) and Columbus, adding 24 doubles and scoring 70 runs. He brings defensive versatility to the bench, boasting the organization’s best infield arm, and having also been noted as its best defensive infielder. He actually was moved from second base to shortstop during his career and played there almost exclusively for the last few years before seeing time at shortstop, second, third and the outfield so far this season, perhaps in preparation for his imminent (and long-awaited) promotion. He is a good runner with range in the field and bat speed at the plate as well and can contribute in several areas. The fact that his debut came in right field is an indication of that.
DONNIE HART, LHP, ORIOLES:
Ht/Wt: 5’11” / 180 B/T: L/L BORN: September 6, 1990
ACQUIRED: Drafted in the 27th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Texas State).
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 33 games at Bowie (Double-A) with 43 strikeouts in 39 innings, walking seven and allowing 34 hits.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Bowie July 15 when RHP Jason Garcia was sent down and RHP David Hale was outrighted to clear a space on the 40-man roster.
DEBUT: July 17, in a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The third of four pitchers, he threw a perfect two-thirds of an inning, striking out one. Starting the sixth in relief of reliever Vance Worley, Hart got Corey Dickerson to fly out to right field and then struck out Kevin Kiermaier looking before being relieved by Odrisamer Despaigne. He threw six pitches, four for strikes.
PLAYER NOTES: One of, if not THE, top reliever in the Orioles’ farm system in terms of sheer effectiveness since they drafted him in a later round in 2013, Hart brought a career 2.27 ERA into his major league debut in 125 games, having never made a start and picking up 24 saves. In 146.2 IP, he’s fanned 146 and limited opposing batters to a .233 average. He cruised through three levels in 2015, going 6-2 with a 1.49 ERA among stops at Delmarva (Class A), Frederick (High A) and Bowie. His sidearm delivery may keep him from landing on many “prospect lists” but if he keeps on doing what he’s been doing, it won’t keep him out of ballgames.
2080 NOTES: 2080’s Reggie Yinger caught one of Hart’s outings at Bowie in late April and you can read his report here.
CARSON FULMER, RHP, WHITE SOX:
Ht/Wt: 6’0” / 190 B/T: R/R BORN: December 13, 1993
ACQUIRED: Drafted in the first round (#8 overall) of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Vanderbilt).
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 starts at Birmingham (Double-A), striking out 90 and walking 51 in 87 innings, while allowing 82 hits.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Birmingham July 15 when OF Jason Coats was sent down.
DEBUT: July 17, in an 8-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The last of four pitchers, he allowed one hit over two scoreless innings, striking out two. Coming on to start the seventh inning in relief of Tommy Kahnle, the first batter he faced, Albert Pujols, struck out swinging on three pitches. He then got Ji-Man Choi to pop out to shortstop and, after hitting Andrelton Simmons with a pitch, ended the inning by getting Todd Cunningham to fly out to left field. In the eighth, he struck out Jett Bandy swinging, and after Gregorio Petit singled to center, got Yunel Escobar to ground into a double play to end the inning.
PLAYER NOTES: One of three members of the 2014 College World Series champion Vanderbilt team to be selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft (including the 1:1, SS Dansby Swanson, and RHP Walker Buehler at No. 24) he waited barely a year to make it to the big leagues and was the first member of that Commodores class to reach the majors. Coming off a debut pro season in which he combined between the Arizona rookie league and Winston-Salem (High A) for a 1.96 ERA in nine starts, striking out 26 while walking nine in 23 innings and scattering 17 hits, he could project as either a starter or closer, but there’s plenty of time to decide. At Vandy, he was a closer turned ace starter. He boasts a fastball in the middle 90s and a power curveball to lead his arsenal, and has outstanding makeup.
2080 NOTES: Fulmer checked in at No. 43 on 2080’s Preseason Top 125 Prospect Ranking List, where C.J. Wittmann had this to say about him: “Fulmer is a little undersized, and his changeup is still a work in progress, but the White Sox have worked wonders with similar profiles in the past. He’s starting the year at Triple-A Charlotte, but be on the lookout for a call-up, potentially as a starter if he can stretch his arm out early in the season with some success.” You can also check out a 2080 Prospect Spotlight from Wittmann that ran in late May.
OMAR NARVAEZ, C, WHITE SOX:
Ht/Wt: 5’10” / 175 B/T: L/R BORN: February 10, 1992
ACQUIRED: Selected from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Minor League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft on December 12, 2013. Originally signed by the Rays as an international free agent (Dominican Republic) on July 4, 2008.
CURRENT SEASON STATS: .239 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 54 games between Birmingham (Double-A) and Charlotte (Triple-A).
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Charlotte July 6 when C Alex Avila was placed on the 15-day DL. RHP Jake Petricka was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
DEBUT: July 17, in an 8-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The starting catcher, he batted ninth and went 1-for-3 with a run scored. In his first at-bat, facing Jered Weaver, he doubled to center field. He then flew out in the fifth and grounded out in the eighth.
PLAYER NOTES: A career .277 hitter over eight minor league seasons, he batted over .300 in short-season campaigns in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2009 and 2010 and then at Short-Season A Princeton in 2012. In 2015 with the White Sox organization he batted .274 with one homer and 27 RBIs in 98 games at Winston-Salem (High A). That game total was actually a career high for Narvaez, who had not played above Class A ball until this season. Though he has minimal power, he has a decent bat for a back-up catcher.
National League Debuts
MIKE FREEMAN, INF/OF, DIAMONDBACKS:
Ht/Wt: 6’0” / 190 B/T: L/R BORN: August 4, 1987
ACQUIRED: Drafted in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Clemson University).
CURRENT SEASON STATS: .317 with one homer, 24 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 88 games at Reno (Triple-A) along with 17 doubles and six triples.
PROMOTED: Contract purchased from Reno on July 17th when catcher Chris Herrmann was placed on the 15-day DL.
DEBUT: July 17, in a 6-5 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The starting right fielder, he batted sixth and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He struck out swinging in his first big-league at-bat in the first, in the fourth and in the eighth, and drew a walk to lead off the sixth inning.
PLAYER NOTES: By placing one of three active catchers on the DL, the Diamondbacks filled that slot with one of their most versatile players. This year alone at Reno Freeman has seen time at first base, second base and all three outfield spots, and in years past has also played third base and shortstop (he hasn’t caught … yet). A career .290 hitter across seven pro seasons, all with Arizona, he’s hit .317 each of the last two summers at Reno, adding three homers, 41 RBIs and 10 steals in 113 games in 2015 and combining between Reno and Mobile (Double-A) in 2014 to hit .263 with six homers, 41 RBIs, 13 steals, 18 doubles and 10 triples. Originally drafted by the Padres in the 41st round of 2006 out of high school in Orlando, he opted to play college ball at Clemson instead. The Diamondbacks clearly wanted him, selecting him his junior year in the 36th round and then, when he returned for his senior season, watching his stock rise enough to lift him to the 11th round in 2010.
YEFRI PEREZ, OF, MARLINS:
Ht/Wt: 5’11” / 165 B/T: B/R BORN: February 24, 1991
ACQUIRED: Signed as an international free agent (Dominican Republic) on May 29, 2009.
CURRENT SEASON STATS: .262 with one homer, 28 RBIs and 39 steals along with seven doubles in 82 games at Jacksonville (Double-A).
PROMOTED: Recalled from Jacksonville on July 15 when catcher Tomas Telis was sent down.
DEBUT: July 17, in a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Inserted as a pinch-runner for Cole Gillespie in the eighth inning, he stole second base and then scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Christian Yelich.
PLAYER NOTES: This is Perez’s second trip to the big leagues this season but his first at a major league stadium. On July 3, he was the Marlins player selected to serve as an MLB/MLBPA-approved “26th man” on the roster for the Marlins/Braves game played at Fort Bragg military base, but he did not see action that night and was sent back to the minors afterwards (the Braves’ 26th man was infielder Ronnier Mustelier who, likewise, did not get into the game). Probably the speediest player in the Marlins’ system, he hit .240 with one homer, 22 RBIs and 71 steals in 135 games at Jupiter (High A) in 2015 and was well on pace to reach that mark again this year before his call-up. He batted .287 with 30 steals in his first full season I 2914 at Greensboro (Class A).
BUDDY BAUMANN, LHP, PADRES:
Ht/Wt: 5’11”/175 B/T: L/L BORN: December 9, 1987
ACQUIRED: Originally drafted by the Royals in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Missouri State).
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in 13 games at El Paso (Triple-A), striking out 17 and walking eight while scattering nine hits in 17 innings.
PROMOTED: Recalled from El Paso (Triple-A) July 15 to fill the spot left vacant when LHP Drew Pomeranz was traded to the Boston Red Sox.
DEBUT: July 16, in a 7-6, 10-inning win over the San Francisco Giants. The second of seven Padres pitchers on the night, Baumann threw just one pitch and it was all he needed. Coming on in relief of starter Luis Perdomo with two outs in the fifth, a 5-3 lead and Buster Posey standing on second base after a double, the first – and thus far only – batter he faced, Brandon Crawford, grounded out to first base to end the threat.
PLAYER NOTES: Yup, after more than seven years in the minors, Baumann’s official debut – and first trip to the majors — lasted the entire length of one pitch. But it was a good pitch. Now, after being optioned back to El Paso the next day to make room for Edwin Jackson on the active roster, we all have to click our heels together three times and wish that Baumann comes back to the big leagues soon (he’s certainly earned it) so that he does not become the Moonlight Graham of pitchers. After spending the entirety of his pro career – seven years of entirety! — as a member of the Royals’ farm system, he posted a combined 3.17 ERA in those seven pro seasons, going 3-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 34 games at Omaha (Triple-A) in 2015, six of those starts, and striking out 84 in 77 innings, walking 25 and allowing 65 hits. His ability to start or relieve gives the club some flexibility. His debut actually could have come a lot earlier than this (well, a lot earlier in the 2016 season, at least). He seemed to be a lock for the Padres’ bullpen at spring training before being felled by back spasms shortly before the season began, and he spent the first three months of the year on the 60-day DL. When activated on July 1, he was added to the 40-man roster and his call-up came after he got a few innings in, showing the same dominance at El Paso that he’d flashed in Arizona. Oh, and also? This, from reporter Rance Burger of the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. You gotta love it.
