Major League Debuts: Ryne Nelson & Hunter Brown

Two pitchers celebrate Labor Day by joining the big league ranks

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There’s plenty of baseball to be enjoyed today with matinees, a doubleheader, and evening tilts.

Included on the MLB schedule are two games featuring starting pitchers making their Major League debuts: Ryne Nelson of the Diamondbacks and Hunter Brown of the Astros.

Quack Quack

In San Diego, the inconsistent Padres lineup will face Nelson, the D-backs second-round selection in the 2019 Draft. He was a two-way player at the University of Oregon before focusing solely on pitching in his draft year.

Here’s a baseball fun fact: While Nelson was playing shortstop for the Ducks, he was joined on the left side of the infield by Spencer Steer, who made his debut with the Reds on Friday and homered in his first at bat.

Steer, too, was drafted in 2019. He was taken by the Twins in the third round, 34 picks after Nelson.

Last month, Steer was traded to Cincinnati in the deal that sent pitcher Tyler Mahle to Minnesota. So now here we are with two college teammates making their debuts within four days of each other. Too bad pitchers no longer hit in the NL.

Inside Report

Nelson, 24, has spent the entire 2022 season with the Triple-A Reno Aces. Pitching in a very hitter-friendly environment, his stats belie his ability.

Arizona Diamondbacks

I checked in with Mark Reed, a former minor league catcher who is now the hitting coach for Reno, to find out more about Nelson.

“Very even keel,” says Reed,