HERE'S HOW 14 NOTABLE PITCHERS IN A'S HISTORY FARED IN THEIR DEBUTS
Shintaro Fujinami makes his major league debut for the Athletics today against the Los Angeles Angels, and he can only hope it goes as well as it did for Mike Norris 48 years ago.
Norris, the San Francisco-born right-hander, threw a three-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox at the Coliseum as the Athletics won 9-0 the first time he pitched in a major league game.
A look at 14 notable A's debuts, including starts by Catfish Hunter (with the Kansas City Athletics), Mike Morgan, Tim Conroy and Todd Van Poppel who went from high school straight to the major leagues for their first game:
Catfish Hunter Age: Date:
19
May 13, 1965 (for Kansas City Athletics) at White Sox
Outing: Pitched 2 innings in relief, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, no decision in 6-3 defeat.
Vida Blue Age: Date:
19
July 20, 1969 at California Angels
Outing: Pitched 5 1/3 innings as starter, 6hits, 5runs, 3 earned runs, 1walk, 1strikeout, was losing pitcher in 7-3 defeat.
Mike Norris Age: Date:
20
April 10, 1975 vs. Chicago White Sox Pitched 9 innings as starter, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 3strikeouts. Winning pitcher in 9-0victory.
Outing: Mike Morgan Age: Date:
18
June 11, 1978 vs. Baltimore Orioles.
Outing: Pitched 9 innings as starter, 10hits, 3runs, 2 earned runs, 5walks, 0strikeouts.
Tim Conroy Age: Date:
18
June 23, 1978 at Kansas City Royals
Outing: Pitched 3 1/3 innings as starter, 2hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 5 walks, 0 strikeouts. No decision in 5-4 victory.
Todd Van Poppel Age: Date:
19
Sept. 11, 1991 vs. Chicago White Sox
Outing: Pitched 4 2/3 innings as starter, 7hits, 5 runs, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. No decision in 6-5 victory.
Ariel Prieto Age: Date:
25
July 2, 1995 vs. California Angels
Outing: Pitched 2 innings in relief, 0runs, 0walks, 1strikeout. No decision in 7-1 defeat.
Tim Hudson
Age: 23
Date: June 8, 1999 at San Diego Padres
Outing: Pitched 5 innings as starter, 7hits, 3runs, 3earned runs, 4walks, 11strikeouts. No decision in 5-3 defeat.
Mark Mulder Age: Date:
22
April 18, 2000 at Cleveland.
Outing: Pitched 6 innings as starter, 4runs, 4earned runs, 3walks, 6strikeouts. Winning pitcher in 8-5victory.
Barry Zito
Age: 22
Date: July 22, 2000 vs. California Angels
Outing: Pitched 5 innings as starter, 2hits, 1run, 1earned run, 6walks, 6strikeouts. Winning pitcher in 10-3victory.
Rich Harden
Age: 21
Date: July 23, 2003 at Kansas City Royals
Outing: Pitched 7 innings as starter, 4hits, 1run, 1earned run, 2walks, 4strikeouts. No decision in 6-1victory.
Dallas Braden Age: Date:
23
April 24, 2007 at Baltimore Orioles
Outing: Pitched 6 innings as starter, 3hits, 1run, 1earned run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts. Winning pitcher in 4-2victory.
Sonny Gray Age: Date:
23
July 10, 2013at Pittsburgh. Pitched 2 innings in relief, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts. No decision in 5-0 loss.
Sean Manaea Age: Date:
24
April 29, 2016 vs. Houston Astros
Outing: Pitched 5 innings as starter, 4hits, 4earned runs, 4walks, 3strikeouts. No decision in 7-4victory.