10/21/14

2015 Major League Debuts

When the new season starts, everyone is excited to see their team play again after a long winter. People are excited to see the star players and are eager to see the new off season acquisitions. Throughout the course of the season, many fans are eager for the arrival of a rookie within the minor league system. In 2014, the Pirates saw the arrival of pitchers Casey Sadler and John Holdzkom, along with the arrival of top outfield prospect Gregory Polanco. Sadler appeared in six games in 2014 and compiled a record of (0-1) with a 7.84 ERA. Holdzkom was a surprise. He had spent most of the 2014 season in independent leagues. Holdzkom made his Major League debut in September and put up some impressive numbers. In nine games pitched, Holdzkom compiled a record of (1-0) with a 2.00 ERA and one save. To make things even more impressive, he had fourteen strikeouts in only nine innings pitched. Gregory Polanco made his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs in June. Since his arrival, Polanco has appeared in 89 games and has recorded a .235 batting average with seven home runs and 33 runs batted in.

In terms of players who will or should make their Major League debuts with the Pirates in 2015, pitcher Jameson Taillon is expected to take his talents to the Major League level. Most Pirates fans believed that Taillon would make his Major League debut in 2014. Due to an arm injury which required Tommy John Surgery, Taillon missed the 2014 season. Another player who could make his Major League debut is 2015 is catcher Elias Diaz. Diaz spent most of the 2014 season with Double-A Altoona, but was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis later on in the season. One final player who I think has a shot of making his Major League debut in 2015 is pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow had a very strong 2014 season with the Bradenton Marauders. He went (12-5) with an impressive 1.74 ERA. While the 2015 season is still five and a half months away, it will be interesting to see what rookies will make the debuts in 2015.