2015: The Year In Debut

Let's start reminiscing on the 2015 debuts with the first:

JR GRAHAM

On April 6, the Twins were down 4-0 after 6. Graham, who was the Twins Rule 5 selection, came in to replace Phil Hughes. He went two innings. He gave up no runs on two hits. He walked one and struck out none.

Five days later, Graham came into his third game game, this one in Chicago. The Twins were already losing. He recorded his first big league strikeout, Alexei Ramirez.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eX2QhyywlI

EDDIE ROSARIO

In early May, Oswaldo Arcia went on the disabled list. Aaron Hicks was playing great down in Rochester, and the Twins didn't want to mess with that. Not for a two-week call up. So, they decided to call up Eddie Rosario, who had impressed manager Paul Molitor in spring training. It was supposed to just be to get him a look, but he started hitting and playing great defense, and he stuck the rest of the year.

Of course, the best memory of his season, happened on the very first pitch he saw. On May 6, the Twins faced lefty Scott Kazmir. In Rosario's first at-bat, he swung at the first pitch and crushed an opposite-field home run to the delight of the Target Field fans, especially his family behind home plate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVrQwEJyGgY

BYRON BUXTON

Baseball's top prospect was rushed to the big leagues in mid-June. His AA manager, Doug Mientkiewicz said he wasn't ready. Terry Ryan admits he wasn't ready. But Aaron Hicks was hurt, and Torii Hunter was serving his suspension, so the Twins needed to make a decision. They called up Byron Buxton. On June 14 in Texas, Buxton debuted against the Rangers, and Nick Martinez. Buxton went 0-4 and struck out a couple of times, but it was clear his defense was a difference-maker.

A day later, the Twins were in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals. Buxton was again in the lineup, hitting ninth in a National League stadium. He recorded his first big league hit. Of course, it was a triple off of veteran John Lackey. A stand-up triple at that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnttwTHYb1g

ALEX MEYER

2015 was a difficult year for the 6-9, hard-throwing right-hander. He struggled early as a starter and was moved to the bullpen. He had a few good games and the Twins promoted him in late June.

On June 26, Trevor May made a start and went just 1/3 of an inning before giving up five runs. Alex Meyer came on for his big league debut. He got two flyouts to end the first inning. In the second inning, he gave up a three-run homer to Aramis Ramirez. He then struck out Jean Segura for his first big league strikeout. Then Scooter Gennett homered off of him, and then Meyer struck out Kyle Lohse to end the inning. He made one more appearance in the Twins bullpen before returning to Rochester for the remainder of the season.

Of course, we'll highlight his first big league strikeout. It illustrates just how nasty his slider can be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNCS2Vg8tkE

MIGUEL SANO

The Twins were really struggling offensively in late June. Kennys Vargas was shipped all the way to AA Chattanooga, and Miguel Sano was summoned from the Lookouts. He had been mashing for the previous six weeks after he struggled greatly in his return after missing 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

He debuted on July 2 in Kansas City. In his first at-bat, he lined out to center. He struck out in his next two at-bats. In his final at-bat, he was facing closer Greg Holland. He rolled a ball between short and third and beat the throw to first. As obvious as Buxton tripling for his first big league hit was, it was equally (or completely the opposite of equally) obvious that Sano would get an infield single for his.

You can find

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUrHS_g4k6c

RYAN O'ROURKE

Aaron Thompson had been with the Twins since spring training. He was really good in April, and not very good in May and June. Finally in early July, he was sent back to Rochester and the Twins added lefty Ryan O'Rourke to the 40-man roster and called him up.

The 27-year-old lefty came into a game on July 7. The batter he was scheduled to face was Chris Parmelee, but Steve Pearce pinch-hit for him. O'Rourke struck out Pearce and finished a 1-2-3 inning.

Here is the first batter he faced in the big leagues and the first strikeout:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKxT1PKSXrc

TYLER DUFFEY

There was much debate in early August when the Twins called up Tyler Duffey to make a start against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Many fans wanted JO Berrios called up at the time. After Duffey went just two innings and gave up six runs in his debut, he was sent back down. He was called up because he didn't walk many or give up home runs. In his first inning, he walked leadoff man Troy Tulowitski before giving up a home run to Josh Donaldson. In the 2nd inning, a walk to Donaldson loaded the bases before Jose Bautista hit a grand slam.

Fortunately for Duffey, and the Twins, he was given another shot and over the season's final six or seven weeks, he was the team's best starting pitcher, proving that promoting him was a good decision.

We'll show a highlight from his debut, but we'll find the positive. In that second inning, he struck out Tulowitski for his first big league K.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_TA9ZaKqz4

MAX KEPLER

Kepler had a remarkable 2015 season in AA Chattanooga. He was the Twins Daily, and the Twins, minor league hitter of the year. He remained with the Lookouts all season and got a lot of extra at-bats, big at-bats, for Chattanooga in the Southern League playoffs. His three home runs in the championship series against Biloxi helped the Lookouts to the championship. Following the celebration, Kepler received some great news.

Here is a snipit of an interview done with Kepler recently for the 2016 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook regarding what happened next:

"I played first [base] the final game and received the last putout ball of the game off the double play. When everything settled after our celebration in the clubhouse, I wanted to hand over the game ball to Doug Mientkiewicz, who was in his office. He didn’t want the ball, but wanted to inform me that I should pack my bags soon because I was heading up north that coming morning. I teared up out of joy and called my family minutes after I found out. Got no sleep that night but it was all worth it, and a day to remember." (More information coming this week on the 2016 Prospect Handbook. Available very soon!)

On September 27th, he made his MLB debut pinch-hitting for Torii Hunter in the 9th inning of a game against the Tigers. Veteran southpaw Tom Gorzellany was the pitcher, and after a battle, Kepler struck out.

On the season's final day, Kepler made his first start. He batted third and played right field. In his second at-bat of the day, off of Johnny Cueto, Kepler recorded his first big league hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv_4EPE1o14

There you have it. Some very great memories for all eight of these players. What an amazing moment a big league debut must be, regardless of what happens going forward! 2015 will be a memorable year for each of them.