Fansided

5 most memorable MLB debuts

By Scott Rogust

Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images /
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3 Sep 2001: Pitcher Jason Jennings #57 of the Colorado Rockies throwing the ball during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The Rockies defeated the Giants 4-1.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport
3 Sep 2001: Pitcher Jason Jennings #57 of the Colorado Rockies throwing the ball during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco, California. The Rockies defeated the Giants 4-1.Mandatory Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport /

3. Jason Jennings (August 22, 2001 vs. New York Mets)

Shohei Ohtani has become a fan favorite across the league due to his dominance on the pitcher’s mound and in the batter’s box. One player did have himself a hell of a debut in late August of 2001, and that was Colorado Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings.

The Rockies rookie made his MLB debut on the road in Queens, N.Y. at Shea Stadium. Let’s just say the bright lights of the Big Apple did not intimidate Jennings. The right-handed pitcher pitched in all nine innings, where he struck out eight batters and walked four without allowing a single earned run on five hits. If you thought his showing on the mound was impressive, he was even better at the plate.

As a batter, Jennings went 3-for-5 with two RBI. One of those hits just so happened to be a solo home run over the right-field wall at Shea Stadium. The Rockies went onto win the game 10-0.

The following season, Jennings was named the NL Rookie of the Year after posting a 16-8 overall record and a 4.52 ERA. Jennings played with the Rockies until 2006, before moving onto the Houston Astros in 2007 before playing the final two seasons of his career with the Texas Rangers (2008-09).

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