The very first image I have of Curtis Granderson is one of a fresh rookie going through his pregame sprints before a September 2004 game against the White Sox.
In just hit second career major league game, Granderson — playing in front of family and friends in his hometown of Chicago — was already showing his comfort in front of the camera.
Back then, with the Detroit Tigers heading toward a 90-loss season, one year removed from losing an American League-record 119 games in 2003, prospect debuts were all the rage.
[ Tigers mailbag: A middle-of-the-order hitter by any other name would hit the same ]
Less than a year later, Justin Verlander made his debut.