Meet a Major Leaguer profiles a player making their Major League debut. The players profiled are not necessary those who have drawn a lot of attention, but deserve to be known by virtue of the fact that they made it to the highest level of their sport.
Many players featured in this segment are picked because they have a "great baseball name".
Theme [ ] The "Meet a Major Leaguer" theme song is performed by Ben's wife Jessie Barbour .
Meet a Major Leaguer
I am very eager to meet this
Nascent Major Leaguer
It's the thrilling debut
Of somebody new
Let's meet this mysterious
Major Leaguer! Listen
2021 season [ ]
Episode
Player
Pos
Team
Picked by
1684
Zach Pop
P
Marlins
Ben
Chosen for his name. (Runner-up Tucapita Marcano would be featured in 1725 .) Follow-up segment in 1685 .
1684
Jordan Sheffield
P
Rockies
Meg
Chosen because his brother is Justice Sheffield . Debuted against the team that let him go in the Rule 5 Draft (Dodgers).
1686
Louis Head
P
Rays
Meg
Chosen for his age (31). Sold solar panels during the 2020 season when the minors were cancelled.
1686
Kent Emanuel
P
Astros
Ben
Notable debut: Finished game after Jake Odorizzi was pulled due to injury and went 8.2 innings in relief.
1690
Jose Rojas
1690
Alec Bettinger
1694
Patrick Mazeika
C/1B
Mets
Ben
1694
Cody Poteet
SP
Marlins
Meg
1697
Tommy Nance
1697
P.J. Higgins
1709
Dillon Thomas
1709
Bullet Rogan
1716
Mickey Jannis
1725
Hoy Park
1725
Tucupita Marcano
1729
Shea Spitzbarth
1729
Stephen Ridings
1737
Packy Naughton
1737
Griffin Jax
P
Twins
1745
Andy Ibáñez
1745
Janson Junk
1748
Kaleb Ort
1748
Sammy Long
1757
John Heasley
SP
Royals
Meg
Part of a Stat Blast on player debuts witnessed by Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews.
1780
Joan Adon
SP
Nationals
Meg
1780
Tyler Payne
C
Cubs
Ben
Ben was ready to profile Drew Maggi in Episode 1750 but was thwarted because Maggi didn't get into a game. 2022 season [ ]
Episode
Player
Pos
Team
Picked by
1819
Izzy Goldstein
P
Tigers
Ben & Meg
One of three players in MLB history to have come from Ukraine. (This episode was recorded during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.) Izzy played in 1932.
1840
Simón Muzziotti
CF
Phillies
Optioned to the minors moments before the episode was recorded.
1840
Gosuke Katoh
2B
Blue Jays
Inspired the KATOH Farm System Ranking.
1851
Logan Gillaspie
P
Orioles
1851
Brandon Hughes
P
Cubs
1875
Vinnie Pasquantino
1B
Royals
Meg
Meg likes his very Italian name.
1875
Bubby Rossman
RP
Phillies
Ben
Ben likes the name "Bubby".
1892
Wynton Bernard
CF
Rockies
1892
Stone Garrett
LF
Diamondbacks
First "Stone" in MLB. Returned to baseball after getting a real estate license.
1892
Brennan Bernardino
RP
Mariners
Ben
1913
Nate Eaton
OF/3B
Royals
Ben
Called up to replace unvaccinated Royals players on a road trip to Toronto.
1913
Brian O'Keefe
C
Mariners
Meg
Called up to fill in for Curt Casali, who was on paternity leave.
1984
Jason Delay
C
Pirates
James Bailey
Was on the verge of quitting baseball.
1984
Ben DeLuzio
OF
Cardinals
James Bailey
Had 22 consecutive successful stolen bases in AAA.
1984
Donny Sands
C
Phillies
James Bailey
Had to live out of his car.
2023 season [ ]
Episode
Player
Pos
Team
Picked by
1995
Hobie Harris
RP
Nationals
Meg
The second "Hobie" in MLB history.
1995
Hogan Harris
P
A's
Ben
To complement Hobie Harris.
2009
Josh Walker
P
Mets
Meg
Great name for a pitcher.
2009
Garrett Acton
P
A's
Ben
Deceptive delivery.
2021
Keaton Winn
P
Giants
Meg
Great name for a pitcher. Earned a save in his debut.
2009
Ricky Karcher
P
Reds
Ben
Like Keaton Winn, earned a save in his debut.
2040
Declan Cronin
P
White Sox
Ben
First MLB player from Ben's high school.
2044
Slade Cecconi
P
Diamondbacks
Ben
First career strikeout on foul tip caught in catcher's crotch.
2044
Davis Schneider
2B
Blue Jays
Meg
Special request by 10-year old listener.
2024 season [ ]
Episode
Player
Pos
Team
Picked by
2152
Spencer Arrighetti
P
Astros
Meg
Chosen for his name, which abbreviates to "spaghetti".
2152
Blaze Alexander
SS
Diamondbacks
Ben
Chosen for his name.
2152
Jorge Barrosa
CF
Diamondbacks
Ben
Unusually short for an MLB player (5 foot 5).
2169
Ryan Loutos
P
Cardinals
Ben
Hired for both baseball skills and data analysis skills.
2169
Jacob Hurtubise
OF
Reds
Ben
First baseball player to obtain military service deferral from West Point.
2178
Daniel Schneemann
Utility
Guardians
Ben
Nominated by a listener.
2178
Jamie Westbrook
OF/2B
Red Sox
Ben
Nominated by a listener.
2186
Spencer Bivens
P
Giants
Meg
Complicated path to the majors.
2186
Jake Bloss
SP
Astros
Ben
Georgetown alum, like Ben.
2186
Jacob Bosiokovic
RP
Cardinals
Ben
Nominated by a listener.
