Rays infielder Wander Franco had the most noteworthy MLB debut this week, but don’t sleep on Mickey Jannis.
Who?
Even the most hardcore prospect hounds probably haven’t heard of Jannis, because guys who spend more than a decade bouncing around the minor and independent leagues don’t attract much attention. But on Wednesday, Jannis, a 33-year-old knuckleballer, made his MLB debut for the Orioles.
Jannis was picked in the 44th round of the 2010 draft by the Rays and adopted the knuckleball when Tampa Bay cut him after his second pro season. He spent three years in independent ball before the Mets signed him in 2015.