Texas Rangers: Top MLB debuts of the last decade

One of the best parts about baseball is seeing a player making their Major League debut.

There’s just something about witnessing a player’s hard work and dedication pay off right before your very eyes.

Seeing the inevitable smile as the player stands on base after their first major league hit, or a pitcher looking to the crowd and nodding at his parents after walking off the mound can make even a blowout loss enjoyable to watch.

In a season that was one of the worst in franchise history, not to mention one that was shortened by a global pandemic, big league debuts proved to a bright spot for the Texas Rangers in 2020.

Texas had a total of nine players step on to a big league field for the first time last season.

Some of these debuts were better than others, which got me thinking: What were some of the best MLB debuts the Rangers have had in the last 10 years?

I’ve put together a list, in no particular order, of what I believe those top debuts were.

Jurickson Profar’s Texas Rangers debut: September 2, 2012

In 2012, multiple sites had Jurickson Profar as the top overall prospect in baseball ahead of other top names including Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, and Christian Yelich.

So when the Texas Rangers’ then-starting second baseman Ian Kinsler went to the IL, the team called on Jurickson Profar to make his highly anticipated debut.

The rookie didn’t disappoint, going two-for-four and blasting a home run in his first big league plate appearance.

Profar would help propel the Rangers to an 8-3 victory on the road against Cleveland that day.

The former top prospect would go on to play for the Rangers through the 2018 season.

Unfortunately, a slew of injuries kept Profar from ever fully reaching that top prospect potential, but he was a solid utility player for Texas regardless.

In December 2018, Profar was sent to the Oakland A’s in a three team deal that included the Tampa Bay Rays (Spoiler alert, the Rangers got a player from Tampa in that trade who will appear on this list!).

Joey Gallo’s Texas Rangers debut: June 2, 2015

Like Jurickson Profar, Joey Gallo was the Texas Rangers’ top prospect at the time of his debut in 2015, according to Baseball Prospectus.

Gallo was initially called up to replace an injured veteran in the lineup, the fan-favorite and long time Arlington fixture Adrian Beltre.

Gallo gave fans exactly what they were looking for in his debut, as he went three-for-four at the plate with a double and a towering 444 foot home run while racking up four runs batted in.

Since debuting at third base, the six-foot-five slugger has moved around the diamond, having played both corner positions and more recently, some outfield.

To that point, Gallo has established himself as one of the top right fielders in baseball.

Oh, and the home runs haven’t slowed down or become any less majestic, either. He’s hit 120 of them in 473 career games.

I think it’s safe to say Gallo has been a major success at the big league level since making his debut.

Nomar Mazara’s Texas Rangers debut: April 10, 2016

Nomar Mazara wasted no time in his big league debut, collecting a hit in each of his first three plate appearances.

His third at-bat in that contest was the most special, as he blasted a solo home run off of former LA Angels’ ace Jered Weaver to deep right-center field.

Though his offensive success wasn’t enough to make the difference in the contest’s outcome (the Rangers lost 3-1 that day), Mazara looked incredibly comfortable in his debut,

That demeanor was a constant throughout his time in Texas, earning him the nickname “The Big Chill” as a result.

Mazara was never quite able to put it all together and live up to his potential as a Ranger, leading the team to trade him to the Chicago White Sox last December.

The change of scenery didn’t end up helping much either, as Mazara was one of many players non-tendered this off season.

Matt Bush’s Texas Rangers debut: May 13, 2016

Trust me when I say you could make a movie based on the journey Matt Bush has taken to the big leagues.

He was drafted with the first overall pick by the San Diego Padres in 2004 out of high school as a shortstop.

Bush later spent time in a Florida state prison, and was ultimately discovered in a Golden Corral parking lot.

All of that led him to the Rangers in 2016.

After being called up, his first appearance was against the Toronto Blue Jays just days before the infamous Odor-Bautista bout.

It would not prove to be an easy task for Bush initially, as he had to face the then-reigning MVP Josh Donaldson and sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.

But after sitting down Donaldson on strikes, the former top pick escaped the inning after getting both Bautista and Encarnacion to fly out.

Making your debut as a pitcher at the age of 30 doesn’t set you up for a long career and Bush has dealt with a few injuries the last couple of years.

However, he’s still in the Rangers organization as a minor leaguer and could see big-league playing time again soon.

Brock Burke’s Texas Rangers debut: August 20, 2019

Called up to start the second game of a double-header, southpaw Brock Burke showed a lot of promise in his first appearance in the big leagues.

Brought over in the three team Profar trade to Oakland, the lefty went six innings allowing only four hits and no runs while striking out four in the process.

Burke helped the Rangers earn a 3-2 victory that day over the division rival LA Angels.

The young hurler kept things rolling in his next two starts, allowing only 3 runs combined in his first 18 innings pitched.

Things got away from Burke somewhat in his final 3 appearances though, as he allowed 19 earned runs in just 8.2 innings pitched during that span.

Sidelined in 2020 due to a shoulder injury, Burke figures to be in the mix to earn a rotation spot in 2021 and beyond.