In 2014, just months after the Royals made him a first-round pick, left-handed pitcher Brandon Finnegan climbed the ranks rapidly and made his MLB debut on September 6th at Yankee Stadium. Striking out Jacoby Ellsbury on a wicked changeup, the announcers marveled at the 21-year olds arsenal and execution. “My goodness, he’s pitching like he has been here a long time.” one of them said. That fall, he became the first pitcher to appear in both a College World Series and the Major League World Series in the same year.
Pretty soon, Finnegan was on the brightest of stages, first working 2 u2153 innings of work during extra frames in the 2014 American League Wild Card game.