:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66669068/usa_today_14101639.0.jpg)
On this date back in 2017, the San Diego were preparing to face the Chicago Cubs in their house at Wrigley Field. It was the major league debut of 23-year old Kris Bryant, a highly-touted prospect that the Cubs selected with the second-overall pick in the 2013 draft out of the University of San Diego.
The debut was highly anticipated for a number of obvious reasons, but the Padres weren’t going to let Bryant bask in the glitz and the glamour any longer than they could. In a back-and-forth game, the Cubs fell short in a 5-4 loss to San Diego while Bryant went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts by pitcher James Shields. That season, Bryant would strikeout a total of 199 times, his personal record still to this day.
Even after the poor first impression, Bryant would still capture the National League’s Rookie of the Year honors. For the season, Bryant batted .275 with 26 home runs.
April 17th 1951: Mickey Mantle debuts for the Yankees in NY against the Boston Red Sox.
— Liam Connnery (@Liamrosa_) April 17, 2018
April 17th 2015: Kris Bryant debuts for the Cubs in Chicago against the San Diego Padres.
April 17th is a damn cool day in baseball if you ask me. pic.twitter.com/naXDQfvMwq