Tuesday, April 23, 2013

First At-Bat Home Run Part 2

Picking up where we left off yesterday, here's the rest of the players who have hit a home run in their first at bat in the past 10 years.

6/5/08: Mark Worrell. I don't have any cards for Worrell, probably, because beyond hitting this home run, he didn't have much of a major league career. He was another pitcher, and he only has two at bats, both for the Cardinals in one game in 2008. He made a second game appearance for the Orioles in 2011 (8 runs in 2 innings pitched).

2007 Topps Turkey Red #102 Elijah Dukes
4/2/07: Dukes was the only player to do this in 2007 and he did it early. Dukes career ended in 2009 with 31 home runs and numerous criminal problems.

2007 Fleer #332 Josh Fields
9/18/06: Fields was the 5th player to do this in 2006. Fields played in 100 games in 2007 had 23 home runs and was 7th in ROY voting that year. But his career declined and he's been out of the majors since 2010. He's currently with the Phillies AAA club in Lehigh Valley.

2005 Fleer Showcase #110 Charlton Jimerson
9/4/06: Jimerson was the 2nd of three Astros to hit a home run in his first at bat in the past 10 years. Jimerson was a highly touted rookie in 2005 but things didn't work out for him. He's only had 4 hits in his entire career (2005-2008) but 2 of them are home runs.

2007 Bowman Heritage #237 (short print) Kevin Kouzmanoff
9/2/06: Kouzmanoff went on to hit 84 more home runs but hasn't played since 2011. He doesn't seem to be even in the minors this year.

2006 Fleer Tradition #48 Adam Wainwright
5/24/06: Another pitcher. In 8 years with the Cardinals, Wainwright has an 83-49 record, has hit 6 home runs and 18 doubles.

2010 Topps #619 Mike Napoli
5/4/06: This is the earliest Napoli card I have scanned. He's had another 147 home runs and currently plays for the Red Sox.

2005 Bowman Draft Picks Futures Game Game Worn Relic #148 Jeremy Hermida
8/31/05: Hermida's playing time has fallen drastically since leaving the Marlins in 2009. Although he has 65 home runs, almost all were hit before 2010. He's currently with the Indians AAA club in Columbus.

2007 Topps Heritage #414 Mike Jacobs
8/21/05: Since hitting his first home run with the Mets, Jacobs has gone on to hit 100 more. But since failing a drug test in 2010 he's been in decline and is currently playing in Mexico.

9/26/04: Andy Phillips. No cards scanned for him.  He hit his first home run for the Yankees but hasn't done much since. He spent 2010 in Japan but now appears out of organized baseball.

2004 Skybox Autographics (numbered 1090/1500) #69 Greg Dobbs
9/8/04: Dobbs has 45 career home runs. He's mainly been a pinch hitter and platoon player. In 2007-2008, while with the Phillies, he led the majors in pinch hits. He's currently with the Marlins.

4/30/04: Brian Dallimore. Dallimore appeared in 27 games for the Giants in 2004-2005 and only has the one home run. There were 3 fist at bat home runs in April 2004.

2007 Upper Deck Hector Luna
4/8/04: The only Luna card I own. Luna hit his first home run for the Cardinals. Since then he's played 339 games for 5 different teams and has 15 Career home runs. He's currently on the Phillies major league roster although I don't remember seeing him play.

2005 Upper Deck Pro Sigs Silver Parallel #52 Kazuo Matsui
4/6/04: 32 home runs in a career than ended in 2010 with the Astros.

6/27/03: Dave Matranga. Matranga had 5 at bats for the Astros in 2003 and that was pretty much it. Of the 32 players who hit a home run in his first at bat in the last 10 years, Matranga has the distinction to have had the least plate appearances.

1 comment:

Brendan Taylor said...

I have that same Elijah Dukes rookie card that dude and a few other "devil Ray" outfielders always seemed to be really talented but have some sort of problem (Joey gathright, Rocco Baldelli). Mike Jacobs was one of my favorite Marlins when he played for us although he struck out more times then i can count I always had an affinity for his vicious upper cut swing. Love the blog btw I'm following check mine out http://truschoolsports.blogspot.com/ Feel free to join the site if you like what you see. Great article man.