On the occasion of Jesús Luzardo’s first MLB start, a look at other noteworthy big league starts in A’s history
Jesús Luzardo next up: A look at the Big Three, Sonny Gray, Dave Stewart and other noteworthy big league starts in A's history.
OAKLAND — Finally, the A’s No. 1 pitching prospect will make his first big league start. Jesús Luzardo, after two years of bad breaks, will get the nod Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers.
Luzardo’s highly-anticipated start comes amid a pandemic-delayed MLB season, but will be remembered in Athletics’ history. Where might it stand among the A’s franchise’s storied starts through the decades?
Sonny Gray, age 23, 2013, at Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4 loss, L.
Line: six innings, four hits, four runs, two earned runs, three walks, five strikeouts
The A’s biggest pitching prospect of the early 2010s’ first big league start in Toronto started with a thump courtesy of Jose Bautista’s two-run blast in the first inning. Two unearned runs are the more unsightly blemishes on his start, and were of no fault of his own. Gray’s second big league start produced some cleaner numbers: eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts against the Houston Astros at the Coliseum.
Barry Zito, age 22, 2000, Anaheim Angels, 10-3 win, W.
Line: Five innings, two hits, one earned run, six walks, six strikeouts.
A slightly erratic, yet somehow effective in his first big league start, Zito spun the Angels for six strikeouts — but also gave six of them free passes, not including a hit batsman. the Southern California native with a sweet curveball showed composure, though, allowing just one of those runners to score. The A’s offense opened it up after Zito’s final pitch in the fifth, though.
Mark Mulder, age 22, 2000, at Cleveland Indians, 8-5 win, W.
Line: Six innings, five hits, four earned runs, three walks, six strikeouts
The second of the Big Three up was the A’s towering left-handed prospect. Manny Ramirez greeted Mulder four batters into his big league debut with a two-run home run. But, big RBIs from Miguel Tejada and Ryan Christenson in the sixth nudged Mulder to his first big league win.
Tim Hudson
June 8, 1999… at San Diego…No Decision in 5-3 loss
Line: Five innings, seven hits, three earned runs, four walks, 11 strikeouts
Hudson, 23, the smallest of the Big Three in stature and hype, had the loudest debut. Facing the reigning National League champions, he not only struck out 11 batters in five innings but also got his first major league hit, a single to left (after drawing a walk his first time up).
Todd Van Poppel, age 19, 1991, Chicago White Sox, 5-4 win, ND.
Line: 4.2 innings, seven hits, five earned runs, two walks, six strikeouts
The A’s 1990 first-round pick out of Arlington Texas made his debut just a year into his professional career. Van Poppel’s first big league start was his only start in 1991. Van Poppel struck out five of the first six batters he faced, including Frank Thomas. But the White Sox rocked him in a four-run fourth that included a 43-year-old Carlton Fisk home run.
Bob Welch, age 31, 1988, Seattle Mariners, 6-0 win, W.
Line: Seven innings, zero earned runs, three walks, six strikeouts.
After 10 years in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, the late Bob Welch came to Oakland without a hitch. Against the Mariners in his first start, Welch threw seven shutout innings with six strikeouts.
Dave Stewart, age 29, 1986, New York Yankees, 7-1 loss, ND.
Line: Five innings, five hits, one earned run, two walks, six strikeouts
Smoke made his first big league start with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, age 24. But the journeyman’s first start with the A’s came four years and two teams later. Stewart gave up one run after future teammate Rickey Henderson doubled and stole third, scoring on a Willie Randolph single.
Catfish Hunter, age 19, 1965, at Detroit Tigers, 12-8 loss, L.
Line: Two innings, three hits, four earned runs, three walks, zero strikeouts
The Kansas City Athletics’ 19-year-old pitcher wasn’t quite the Hall of Fame starter he’d become. In Hunter’s first big league start, he gave up back-to-back home runs to Willie Horton and Norm Cash in the second inning.
Vida Blue, age 19, 1969, at California Angels, 7-3 loss, L.
Line: 5.1 innings, six hits, five runs, three earned runs, one walks, one strikeout
Aurelio Rodriguez, the second batter of the game, greeted Blue with a towering home run. Jim Spencer would hit another off him to lead off the third.
Dennis Eckersley, age 32, May 6, 1987, at Boston Red Sox, 6-2 loss, L.
Line: 6.1 innings, nine hits, three earned runs, zero walks, two strikeouts.
Before Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan turned Eckersley into one of the most dominant closers in baseball history, the career-long starter pestered them into two starts. The first came at Fenway Park, his home for six seasons, including a 20-win season in 1978. Three weeks later, at Yankee Stadium, he gave up 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings and never started again.
Ken Holtzman, age 26, 1972, Minnesota Twins, 4-3 win, W.
Line: Eight innings, three hits, two earned runs, zero walks, four strikeouts.
Holtzman’s Oakland arrival came with a bang. He tossed eight innings and gave up a home run in the first inning to Danny Thompson.