A-Rod was drafted in 1993 and rocketed through the minor league system. . He also leads MLB in hits through Tuesdays games, with 11 yes, even ahead of the great Steven Kwan (who is three-and-a-half years older than Franco). The 27-year-old is coming off an outstanding 2022 campaign that saw him finish second in AL Cy Young voting. B.J. Entering the 2023 campaign, Franco will turn 22 years old. The Rays first true homegrown star, Crawford was selected in the second round of the 1999 Draft then steadily but speedily climbed to the Majors. Who is the youngest manager in MLB in 2023? Doerr played in just 55 games in 1937, but played in 100 or more in every season from 1938-51 except 1945, when he served in the military. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these, He was an extreme outlier case involving the Rule 5 Draft. 79,293: 4.57: Sports: Sep 22, 2010: MLB Youngest to 200 Career Home Runs. Since then, Palica would leave the MLB and return only in 1947. Hell make his big league debut on Tuesday. In that 1916 season, Hornsby hit .313 with 15 triples. Heres a look at the earliest debuts, by age, in franchise history. He was twice the American League MVP, three times an all-star selection and was voted in to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Entering late in an 18-0 drubbing at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals, the teenage Nuxhall faced nine hitters, retiring two, but allowing two hits, five walks and five runs. Foxx would go on to establish himself as one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history, amassing 534 home runs and 1,922 RBI over 20 seasons. He posted a 3.46 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 132 2/3 innings over 149 outings with the Rays before being traded to the Phillies on Dec. 29. PACE, Fla. (BVM) - The No. Though never spectacular, Miksis enjoyed a 14-year run as a utility infielder, mostly with the Dodgers and Cubs, as well as short stints with the Cardinals, Orioles and Reds. As such, this Wander fun fact seemed especially ripe for further exploration. Ryan Weathers, LHP, Padres (age 21, DOB: Dec. 17, 1999) In fact, the last 18-year old to make his MLB debut was Alex Rodriguez which was way back in 1994. He's proven to be a perennial Cy Young candidate since shifting to . Robin Yount, SS: 18 years, 201 days in 1974; 19 years, 204 days in 1975 (Brewers)Younts Major League debut came on Opening Day in 1974 as an 18-year-old. He went 2-for-3 with a homer in his first game, a 12-9 loss to the White Sox, and hit .317 in his first 30 games. Twins: Rich Garces, RHP, 1990 El Guapo! But after five games with the team, George was relegated to the minor leagues and never played in the MLB again. The Cincinnati Reds hold a unique record that will most certainly never be broken, as they fielded the youngest player in MLB history. Joe Nuxhall had one of the more interesting paths to the majors in modern baseball history. Though it was remarkable, he got torched in his lone teenage appearance and didn't set foot on a big league field for another eight years. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Alex Rodriguez Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com lex Rodrguez Positions: Shortstop and Third Baseman Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-3 , 230lb (190cm, 104kg) Born: July 27, 1975 (Age: 47-210d) in New York, NY us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 3x MVP 14x All-Star 2009 World Series 2x Gold Glove Doerr was a nine-time All-Star for the Red Sox and is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Making his Major League debut as a reliever on September 24, 1919, Lefty Weinert got shelled, allowing 11 hits and nine runs in four innings. Perhaps the best part of this whole guessing game? After that it forced Major Leaague Baseball to set age restrictions for international players who were not covered by the then current regulations. Alex George made his MLB debut at age 16 on September 16, 1955 for the Kansas City Athletics. Just to put his age in perspective, consider this: Franco wears a No. Killebrew's case is rare in that you don't often see players yo-yo between the big leagues and minor leagues as much before settling in as stars. 2 prospect in the Minors, according to Baseball America, behind only Joe Mauer. Having just turned 21 last month, Franco remains the youngest player in MLB despite having already posted a 43-game on-base streak and having already signed a $182 million contract extension. Saturday at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis could go a long way in determining the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Well, Franco is not only younger than every other player in the big leagues, but he's also younger than all the players in Triple-A. He only got to play that year for a month due to the strike and split much of the next season between the Mariners and their AAA affiliate. Follow. You can follow him on Twitter @j_shusterman_. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. On July 19, 1936 when a 17-year-old Bob Feller was handed his first appearance at the big league level, most had no idea that the less-than physically imposing teenager was about to embark upon a. (Joe . Within the last three years, weve seen the Blue Jays Elvis Luciano take the field at 19 years, 44 days and the Nationals Juan Soto immediately thrive as a teenager (19 years, 207 days). The shortstop joined the Tampa Bay Rays as one of the top international prospects in the 2017 international class, signing on July 2, 2017. Pagliaroni wouldn't see the big leagues again until 1960, when he stuck as a big league catcher for the next 10 seasons. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. He made his debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 1944. The added mass didn't work out last year as the big righty yielded a 4.90 ERA and 1.435 WHIP in 161.2 innings (30 starts). On January 19, 1972, 36-year-old Sandy Koufax, the former Los Angeles Dodgers star, becomes the youngest player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 2023 Suedtiroltranser. Inactive players are those players no longer playing in professional baseball anywhere (including the minors or internationally). Wander Franco was the youngest player in the MLB in both 2021 and 2022. Franco wont be the youngest player to debut in the Majors, of course. He earned four All-Star nods (plus one All-Star Game MVP), a Silver Slugger Award and one Gold Glove before becoming a free agent after the 2010 season. IF Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals Born: May 16, 2000 (20 years old) Despite not yet playing above the Double-A level, Garcia joined the MLB roster last August for a Washington Nationals team that has never been shy about promoting players at a young age. There seems to be an influx of youth in Major League baseball these days, as performance-enhancing drugs and their impact upon the game have been reduced by baseball's renewed focus on eradicating under-handed methods of enhancing one's abilities and prolonging careers beyond their natural expiration dates. Feller would go on to pitch until 1956, compiling a 266-162 record with a 3.25 ERA and 2,581 strikeouts. MLB's current rules don't allow anyone younger than 17 to be on a big league roster. Drafted second overall in the 2002 Draft, Upton played 130 games in the Minors in 03 and 98 in 04 before the then-Devil Rays called him up. Average Age Mlb Debut. He was no flash in the pan, earning 10 gold gloves and 5 All-Star Game selection in his career. He entered the game as a reliever, throwing a single inning of uneventful ball, walking two. On that day, he hurled three innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing one run on two hits and three walks. Trammell and Lou Whitaker made their big league debuts together in insanely appropriate fashion, and even though Trammell only played in 19 games and hit just .186 in that debut 1977 season, he'd go on to become a Detroit Tiger legend, winning the 1984 World Series and being named MVP. Showing Rusty Staub, RF: 19 years, 8 days in 1963 (Colt .45s)Staub hit cleanup as a 19-year-old on Opening Day in 1963, going 1-for-3 in a Houston loss to San Francisco. To become MLB's youngest, anyone on these lists born in September 2002 or later would have to not only jump several minor-league levels over the course of a single season but also get a call that only a select few have over the past decade. The stage hardly looked too big for pitcher Andrew Painter. While he will be remembered as the youngest player in Major League Baseball history, he was also named to the All-Star team twice and inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1968. Derrington made another 20 appearances for the White Sox in 1957, and overall went 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA in only 43 career big league innings. Despite entering the league at only 17 years old, Granny Hamner would also play in the league for 17 years. Following his early debut, Weinert was able to hang on as a lefty hurler for parts of nine seasons with the Phillies, Cubs and a couple appearances with the Yankees. MLB Players Born Before/After Date This tool shows the players born immediately before and after a specified birthdate. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1951. ?2001: Wander Franco2000: Elvis Luciano1999: Fernando Tatis Jr.1998: Juan Soto1997: Ozzie Albies1996: Julio Urias1995: Roberto Osuna1994: Rougned Odor1993: Jurickson Profar1992: Bryce Harper, (If youve never heard of Elvis Luciano, thats OK. And now Franco, MLB PipelinesNo. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Brooks Robinson, 3B: 19 years, 332 days in 1957 (Orioles)The Hall of Famer debuted in September 1955 as an 18-year-old, but started his first Opening Day in 1957 before turning 20 in May. In 77 games, he hit 7 home runs and batted .215. 35. Not on a 40-man roster, but young prospects already in Double-A: Braves OF Michael Harris (3/7/01)Cardinals 1B Malcom Nunez (3/9/01)Rays RHP Taj Bradley (3/20/01)Yankees SS Anthony Volpe (4/28/01)White Sox SS Jose Rodriguez (5/13/01)Orioles SS Gunnar Henderson (6/29/01)Mets C Francisco Alvarez (11/19/01)Blue Jays SS Orelvis Martinez (11/19/01)Cardinals 3B Jordan Walker (5/22/02)Marlins RHP Eury Perez (4/15/03). He had debuted in June 1998, a few months after turning 19. He'll always be known for the cannon right arm, but his offense started strong with a .264 batting average to go with 3 home runs in 88 games, also ranking high for the players listed in this group. 24 Ramirez only turned 37 last month, making him the second-youngest player on this list. The Tigers defeated a young Don Larsen and the Orioles, 3-0. He debuted just days after his 19th birthday. Hamner had stopovers with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, and the Kansas City Athletics. Earning his big league debut as a catcher August 13, 1955, Jim Pagliaroni was the youngest backstop to see Major League action in baseball's modern era. Medical issues limited him after that, although he was part of the Rays worst-to-first turnaround in 2008 and finished his playing career with the team in 10. Young players reign supreme in baseball. D-backs SS Jordan Lawlar (7/17/02)Red Sox SS Marcelo Mayer (12/12/02)Marlins SS Kahlil Watson (4/16/03)Nationals SS Brady House (6/4/03). He had debuted and played three games in late 1939, then played the full 154-game schedule in 1940 for Chicago. and let him make his MLB debut . Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (8/12/01)Padres OF Robert Hassell III (8/15/01)Phillies RHP Mick Abel (8/18/01)Rockies C Drew Romo (8/29/01)Giants SS Marco Luciano (9/10/01)Mariners SS Noelvi Marte (10/16/01)Athletics C Tyler Soderstrom (11/24/01)Rockies OF Zac Veen (12/12/01)Reds SS Elly De La Cruz (1/11/02)Giants OF Luis Matos (1/28/02)Red Sox 2B Nick Yorke (4/2/02)Rangers OF Evan Carter (8/29/02). He remained involved with the team for years before becoming the Twins' manager. One of the most exciting things about the start of the 2022 season is the incredible group of tippy-top prospects who made Opening Day rosters, including Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Spencer Torkelson and Hunter Greene. He was the league leader in home runs in six different seasons. Given his MLB debut on September 30, 1956, two months prior to his seventeenth birthday, Derrington hurled six innings against the Kansas City Athletics, allowing six runs on nine hits and six walks. He was 39 years, 287 days old in his final game. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Predicting when top 2023 prospects will make their MLB debuts. There's something compelling for baseball fans about very young MLB players. In 131 big league games, he compiled an 18-33 record with a 4.59 ERA. The hard-throwing Philadelphia Phillies prospect's fastball touched 99 mph in his spring training debut against Minnesota on Wednesday. The supreme monster of teenage pitching, Gooden blazed his way to the big leagues and put up a 17-9 record with an amazing 2.60 ERA in his first season with the Mets in 1984. Unlike the names above, you wont find them anywhere near any top-100 prospect lists. Former New York Yankees teammates Babe Ruth, right, and Lou Gehrig pose together at a spring training game in St. Petersburg, Fla., March 16, 1935 as . It was the American Professional Football Association back then, and it included only 10 teams. That said, it would take a whole bunch of injuries to the Houston pitching staff to get either of these guys to Minute Maid Park anytime soon. Apparently the team had originally intended upon scouting his father, but were impressed by the younger Nuxhall. In 849 games, mostly with the Red Sox and Pirates, as well as short stints with the A's and Seattle Pilots, Pagliaroni hit .252 with a .751 OPS, hitting 90 home runs with 326 RBI. Kazmir pitched five innings against a lineup led by Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez. Harper has taken the league by storm this year, making fans with his hard-nosed style of play. So Nuxhall's name will probably . Grifol will then turn to Lucas Giolito Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitching four innings of relief in a loss to the Chicago Cubs, Skaugstad allowed three hits, three walks and no runs. Tips/tools for using data gri ds: Manual Filter: Single-click a row to highlight in orange. 41,403: 4.62: Sports: Aug 3, 2011: Over/Under: 35 HRs in a Season. Over his 16 seasons with the Phillies, as well as parts of two seasons with the Athletics and Indians, Hamner hit .262 with 104 home runs and 708 RBI. Suedtiroltranser is a website that writes about many topics of interest to you, a blog that shares knowledge and insights useful to everyone in many fields. Through 0.2 innings, Nuxhall finished with a 67.50 ERA with zero strikeouts while giving up five runs to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. His abilities stood up as he got older and as the player pool deepened after the war, and Nuxhall played for 16 seasons, owning the Reds record for most games pitched by a left-hander. it seems a 2022 MLB debut is all but inevitable. Tony Conigliaro, CF: 19 years, 100 days in 1964 (Red Sox)A teenage Conigliaro made his Major League debut for the Red Sox on Opening Day in 1964. He and Whitaker are considered by many Detroit faithful as Hall of Fame snubs. We've. George made his MLB debut on September 16, 1955 for the Kansas City Athletics. A typical Major League Baseball season lasts approximately one month and one half, and teams play 162 games. He's hit 322 home runs with a .277 average over his career since then. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Of the youngest MLB players, Alex George is in the minority of those who played all of their MLB games as minors. Im just happy I hit the ball, Upton told the St. Petersburg Times after his first game, during which he wore No. Kaline wound up being selected an all-star a staggering 18 times, won one World Series in 1968, and stuck around as a TV commentator for the team after his career ended. Pitching mostly for the Cincinnati Reds, aside from short cameos with the KC Athletics and the Angels, he compiled a 135-117 career mark with a 3.90 ERA. He pitched four more seasons of minor league ball without again reaching the majors. On Dec. 12, 2004, they traded him to the Blue Jays for a 27-year-old catcher by the name of Kevin Cash. He made his debut on September 14, 1944 for the Philadelphia Phillies. Not the greatest start for the man with the fiery temperament, but he'd go on to hit 509 home runs and bat .292 lifetime, while winning a World Series title and being selected to nine all-star games. Watson and Mayer could be particularly quick movers, la Bobby Witt Jr. He missed most of the 1952-53 seasons due to military service. He was signed by the Giants at the very young age of 16. 6 (as an ode to his place in the Yankee chain of great players following Ruth - 3, Gehrig - 4, and DiMaggio - 5) and ended his first year with a nasty knee injury during the World Series when DiMaggio called him off of a fly ball in the outfield. As time has gone on, the teenage debut has become rarer, which makes Harper's ascendance all the more remarkable. The 20-year-old hailed from the Dominican Republic and made his major league debut late in the season on Sept. 7, 2017. The 17-year-old first baseman would only appear in two games for the Cleveland Indians, knocking one base-hit and collecting one RBI in eight at-bats. Wheeler lost his debut, a 3-1 defeat against the Orioles, despite allowing only two runs over five innings. He spent 11 years with the Philadelphia Athletics before ending his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. All of them have been position players -- the youngest pitcher on record to start on Opening Day was Catfish Hunter at 20 years, 4 days old in 1966. If Hassell somehow destroys each level of the minors one month at a time, perhaps Preller would be aggressive enough to call up the sweet-swinging outfielder for a September playoff push. Find out more. Making his big league debut on August 18, 1943, McKee tossed three innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits and two walks. Gavin Lux's torn ACL deals major blow to Dodgers; what are their options? Batting second and starting in center field, he doubled off Pedro Martinez in the fourth inning -- his first hit -- and stood on deck when Crawford ended the game with a three-run, walk-off homer in the ninth. Cruz was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the New York Mets in 2000, but was traded to the Oakland Athletics. FIFA World Cup - Best Goals from Every Angle, Draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. Appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the age of 16 with the caption "The Chosen One." Ken Griffey Jr., CF: 19 years, 133 days in 1989 (Mariners)Griffey's first Opening Day start was also his Major League debut. He started as a shortstop, moved to the outfield, and never missed a beat along the way. Being on a 40-man suggests two very important things about a player: 1) his organization believes he can be a major-leaguer; 2) an additional roster move to clear a spot on the 40-man would not be necessary in the event of any of these players being called up. It was a measly six games in 1979 and he never recorded an at-bat, but still scored three runs and stole two bases. Uras was promoted to the Los Angeles Dodgers to make his major league debut against the New York Mets on May 27, 2016. . Mike Trout and Alex Rodriguez also debuted as teenagers, yet didn't find real, sustainable success until their 20s. Scheib made a handful of appearances for the Philadelphia Athletics over the next three seasons before being drafted into military service in 1945. In the season-ending game, Derrington was given a chance to start for the Chicago White Sox in his MLB debut. Mauricio is the best prospect of the bunch, with Tena a close second, but both Cleveland and New York are already plenty crowded with infielders at the levels above them. Another youngster rushed to the big leagues during the waning years of World War II, Osgood made his MLB debut on June 18, 1944. . Scott Kazmir: 20 years, 212 daysDebut: Aug. 23, 2004. Following the 1944 season, Miksis joined the Navy and served for 2 years before resuming his big league career in 1946. Vada Pinson, RF: 19 years, 247 days in 1958 (Reds)Pinson hit second ahead of Frank Robinson in an Opening Day loss to the Phillies, which doubled as his MLB debut. Mickey Mantle, RF: 19 years, 179 days in 1951 (Yankees)Batting third in his first Opening Day and his Major League debut, the Hall of Famer went 1-for-4 in a Yankees win against the Red Sox. Yount hit his first home run on April 13 that year, and went on to hit three more as an 18-year-old. Though his career would end prematurely, Jimmie Foxx remains a legend of the game today. The modern era of Major League Baseball began with 8 teams in the National League in 1900 and 8 in the American League in 1901. In Monday's split-squad start against the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon quickly learned how far a baseball travels in the dry Arizona air. Furthermore, Ott also led the NL in RBI in 1934. Send a Message. 2. Marin made his MLB debut in September of 2016 and has appeared in 36 games for the Orioles over the past two seasons. Delmon Young: 20 years, 349 days Debut: Aug. 29, 2006 The No. Given his initial shot on August 19, 1943, Michaels went hitless in two starts late that year. Tatis says shoulder, wrist '100%' in first game since '21. On May 1, 1925, the teenage Foxx would enter the game against the Washington Senators as a pinch hitter, and he began his Hall of Fame career with a single. But despite the accomplishment, McKee would never see action. So one level down we go! He hasn't looked back since, arguably becoming one of the greatest hitters of all time. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Kaline went on to be an 18-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner and won a batting title, as well as a World Series. He also wound up becoming a beloved broadcaster for the club before his death in 2007. Your login session has expired. He was 15 years and 316 days old when he made his MLB debut for the Reds. MLB! Though many of them were merely fill-ins during the absence of more established older players, others turned their opportunities as teens into productive careers in the big leagues. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. The following year, he received MVP votes for the first of what would be six times. Scheib was eclipsed by Joe Nuxhall less than a year later however. Volpe will need to join or surpass fellow infield prospect Oswald Peraza (older than Franco but currently in Triple-A) on his way to the Bronx. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Another young player to make an early debut thanks to a large number of regular Major Leaguers serving in WWII, Carl Scheib first saw game action as a 16-year-old on September 6, 1943. We just need a player born after March 1, 2001. Even if Alvarez's defense behind the dish isnt fully baked by the end of this season, his bat might be too overwhelming to ignore if the Mets need an offensive boost at some point this year. He would go on to do a lot better, and stop hundreds from doing as well as they would have if they'd hit the ball at any other third baseman. Although teenagers younger than 19 have been rare in the MLB, some have managed to accomplish this feat with a lot of them being called up due to the World War. He is still the only 01 baby in the bigs, as the next-youngest player on an active roster right now is the Mariners Rodriguez, who was born on Dec. 29, 2000. All Rights Reserved. Robbins made his debut a year earlier and pitched well as a teen, starting eight games and putting up a 3.91 ERA. His favorite position is shortstop. Bobby Doerr, 2B: 19 years, 13 days in 1937 (Red Sox)A teenage Doerr hit leadoff for the Red Sox on Opening Day, going 3-for-5 in a game Boston won, 11-5, over the Athletics. He would only appear in the big leagues four more times in his career, compiling a 1-0 record and a 5.87 ERA from late 1943-1944. Wander Franco was the youngest player in the MLB in both 2021 and 2022. He lives in D.C. but is a huge Seattle Mariners fan and loves watching the KBO, which means he doesn't get a lot of sleep. The 20 younger players in the MLB that debut since World War I,0 von 20Christian Petersen/Getty PicturesBaseball is a young man. He went 0-for-2 in a Dodgers loss to the Phillies. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to read them first! Michael Vick holds the record since 2000 with a 4.33 time. He was a three-time MVP, and won the NL triple crown in 1933. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 11:02PM. Lets try to figure it out! Jos Alvarado: 21 years, 347 daysDebut: May 3, 2017. He went on to win seven batting titles and won the Triple Crown twice. Well, I guess 18 if you count going to Candlestick Park in San Francisco for an NFL exhibition game. He spent time with the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Athletics, and Los Angeles Angels. Mantle would go on to hit 13 home runs as a teenager for the Yankees, before hitting 23 the following season as a 20-year-old. OK, so he only pitched in 4 games (started three), but went 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA. Bob Kennedy, 3B: 19 years, 242 days in 1940 (White Sox)Kennedy hit leadoff for the White Sox and went 0-for-4 in a 1-0 loss to Bob Feller and the Indians. Tampa Bay called up Upton and gave him his first start on Aug. 2, 2004, a 6-3 loss against Boston. Rogers McKee Age of debut: 16 Years, 11 Months, and 2 Days Debuting Team: Philadelphia Phillies Date of Debut: August 18, 1943 Position: Pitcher photo source: By SBNation.com, Fair use, He pinch hit and struck out in the eighth inning of win over the Chicago White Sox. 15. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Though he did little to impress in those two games, he was able to stick around Chicago for eight seasons, even earning All-Star honors in 1949 and 1950. Soto is also tied for 100th on the active leaderboard for MLB home runs (99) and is 48th . Staub started his career at a young age, and ended it after more than 2,900 games as a 41-year-old. Be the first one to comment on this story. You might have noticed a theme above: All the earliest debuts took place before the team dropped the Devil and became the Rays. During his brief stint with stardom, the Rangers averaged 27,000 fans during his home starts, and just 6,000 fans the rest of the time. But they have to be mentioned, considering that they are two of the youngest players on Double-A rosters to start the season. In 24 games for the Brewers in 1988, Sheffield hit four home runs and batted .238. In other words, its been a while. Predicting when top 2023 prospects will make their MLB debuts. Kazmir eventually proved those critics correct, as he went 45-34 with a 3.51 ERA and two All-Star nods from 2005-08 and started Game 1 during the Rays first trip to the World Series. Once upon a time, teenage ballplayers were counted on as a necessity when vast numbers of Major Leaguers were called into military service during World War II. As such, it seems likely that the first 2002 baby to reach MLB will have a great chance to be a star someday, too. Hank Ruszkowski, C: 19 years, 158 days in 1945 (Indians)In the same game Cass Michaels started as a teenager, Ruszkowski went 2-for-3 in an Indians loss. Why not Triple-A? This tool shows the players born immediately before and after a specified birthdate. Sisti had debuted as an 18-year-old in July 1939.