Until May 20, the surprising Atlanta Braves seem to have a lock on MLB’s youth movement. As of May 19, the Braves had the first-, second- and third-youngest players to appear in the majors in 2018. The Braves, in fact, had the only 2018 major leaguers born after January 1, 1997. (More on that in a few paragraphs. First a look at the “newest youngest” player in the “show.”)
On May 20, 19-year-old Juan Soto (born October 25, 1998) made his MLB debut for the Washington Nationals – as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of a 7-2 loss to the Dodgers; fanning on a 1-2 pitch. Not an auspicious first at bat, but the 6’1”, 185-pound left-handed hitter made up for it the very next day – starting (batting sixth) in left field against the Padres. In his first at bat in that contest, Soto took the Padres’ starter Robbie Erin deep for a three-run home run. Soto finished the game two-for-four with two runs scored and three RBI. And, as long as we’re on the topic of youth movements – the last player (before Soto) to hit an MLB long ball as a teenager? Soto’s teammate Bryce Harper.
Soto’s solid day at the dish should come as no surprise. Since signing as a 17-year-old in 2016, he has “raked” at every level he’s played. In 2016, he hit .361-5-31 with five steals in 45 games for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals, before being promoted to A-level Auburn, where he hit .429 in six games. Injury slowed his progress in 2017, but he still hit .320 in nine games back with the Gulf Coast League Nationals and .360-4-14 for the Class A Hagerstown Suns.
Soto started this season back at Hagerstown, where he hit .373 with five homers in 16 games and was promoted to the High-A Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League – where he continued to mash (.371, with seven home runs, in 15 games). From there it was on to the Double A Harrisburg Senators, where he hit .323 with two homers in eight games. All of this resulted in a well-earned call up to the injury-riddled Nationals.
Now, about those Braves. When the season opened, Braves’ second baseman Ozzie Albies (born January 7, 1997) was 2018’s youngest major leaguer. He lost that status on April 25, when Braves’ OF Ronald Acuna (born December 18, 1997) took over as MLB’s youngest current player – dropping Albies to second place. Then, on May 1 , Braves’ pitcher Mike Soroka (born August 4, 1997) made his MLB debut, becoming the season’s second-youngest MLB-er, dropping Albies to third. (Acuna, Soroka and Albies, of course, all dropped a spot when Soto was called up.)
These are the only players born after January 1, 1997 in the majors today. Next on the list is the American League’s youngest player – Angel’s pitcher Jaime Barria (born July 18, 1996).
So, how are these youngsters doing? We already know about Soto, let’s take a look at the others among the youngest five. (All stats as of close of play May 21.)
- Ronald Acuna, Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves B: December 18, 1997
The 6’, 180-pound right-handed hitting outfielder made his MLB debut on April 25 (and was, at the time, the 2018 season’s youngest MLB player). Acuna, who signed with the Braves as a 17-year-old in 2015 hit 269-4-18, with 16 steals, in rookie ball that season. He followed that with a .312-4-19 stat line at Rookie-level and Single A in 2016. The real breakout came in 2017. After a 2017 season in which he moved from the Class A Florida Fire Frogs to the Double A Mississippi Braves to the Tripe A Gwinnett Braves – Acuna was named the Minor League Player of the Year by USA today and Baseball America. His combined stat line for 2017 was .325-21-82, with 44 stolen bases, in 139 games. Acuna had a solid 2018 Spring Training (.432-4-11 in 16 games, but started the season in the minors (reportedly due to a contract control/time of service issue.) Since his call up, he has hit .253 (24-for-95), with four home runs and 11 RBI in 24 games.
The youngest player to homer in an MLB game is the Brooklyn Dodgers’ SS tommy Brown, who went yard on August 20, 1945 at the age of 17 years-and 257 days. His long ball was the Brooklyn team’s only run in an 11-1 loss to the Pirates.
- Mike Soroka, RHP, Atlanta Braves B: August 4, 1997
Mike Soroka was drafted (as a 17-year-old) by the Braves (28th overall) in the 2015 draft. The 6’5”, 225-pound righty pitched in the Rookie-level Appalachian and Gulf Coast Leagues in 2015, going 0-2, but putting up a 3.18 ERA and 37 whiffs in 34 innings. In 2016, he moved up to Class A (Rome Braves, South Atlantic League), where he went 9-9, 3.02, with 125 strikeouts in 143 innings. He took another step up in 2017, going 11-8, 2.75, with 125 strikeouts in 153 2/3 innings at Double A. He started this season at Triple A Gwinnett and was 2-0, 1.99 when he received the call to Atlanta.
He was called up to the big club on May 1 and, that same night, pitched six innings against the Mets – picking up his first MLB win (six innings pitched, six hits, one run, no walks and five strikeouts). Since his call up, Soroka is 1-1, 3.68 in three starts – fanning 15 and walking just four in 14 2/2 innings.
The youngest player to appear in an MLB game – and the youngest to pitch in an MLB game – was southpaw Joe Nuxhall, who pitched two-thirds of an inning for the Cincinnatti Reds on June 10, 1944 at the age of 15 years-and 316 days. (There was a shortage of pro players – World War II – and Nuxhall at 15-years-old was north of 6’ tall, close to 200 pounds and had been playing semi-pro ball.) He did not appear in another MLB game until 1952, but did have a 16-season MLB career (135-117, 3.90). It is believed – records are sketchy – that the youngest pitcher to win an MLB game was Willie McGill, who went 11-9, 4.12 for the Cleveland Infants of the Players League in 1890 – as a 16-year-old.
- Ozzie Albies, 2B, Atlanta Braves B: January 7, 1997
Albies actually made his MLB debut on August 1 of last year. That makes him the seasoned veteran of this group. Still just 20-years-old, he is in his second MLB season – and looking like an All Star. The 5’8”, 165-pound right-handed hitting infielder was signed (as a shortstop) by the Braves in 2014. His first professional season, he put in time with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and Danville Braves – going a combined .364-1-19, with 22 steals, in 57 games. In 2016, Albies started the season at Double A (Mississippi Braves) and hit .321-4-33, with 21 steals, in 82 games before being promoted to Triple A Gwinnett. He struggled a bit (learning a new position) and put up a .248-2-20 line, with nine steals, in 56 games. In 2017, he started the season at Gwinnett and showed his ability to make the adjustment – going .285-9-41, with 21 steals, in 97 games before his August 1 call up to Atlanta. He got in 57 games at the major league level and hit .286-6-28 with eight stolen bases.
So far this season, Albies is hitting .281-13-33 with six steals. His 42 runs scored leads the NL; his 13 home runs are second; his 33 RBIs fourth; his 56 hits third; and his 15 doubles second.
- Jamie Barria, RHP, Kos Angeles Angels B: July 18, 1996
Jaime Barria – unlike the others on this list – was not born after January 1, 1997. However, he deserved recognition as the youngest player in the American League (and fifth youngest to play in MLB this year). The 6’1”, 210-pound righty made his MLB debut April 11.
Barria was just 16-years-old when he signed with the Angels out of Panama in 2013. He started out in the 2013 Dominican Summer League, where he went 0-1, 10.80 in four games as a 16-year-old. The following season, still just 17, his line was 4-4, 3.03 and he fanned 55 batters in 59 1/3 innings. In Rookie-level ball (2015), he went 5-4, 4.02 – as he continued steady movement upward. 2016 saw Barrie with the Burlington Bees of the A-level Midwest League, where he went 8-6, 3.85 and fanned 78 in 117 innings. His breakout came in 2017 (still, keep in mind, just 20-years-old), when he pitched at High-A, AA and AAA – going a combined 7-9, but with a stingy 2.80 ERA and 117 whiffs in 141 2/2 innings.
Barria won his first MLB start (April 11), topping the Rangers 7-2. Barria went five innings in that game giving up three hits, a walk and one earned run, while fanning three. He was back down in the minors briefly, before a second start on April 22. He has now made 5 starts and has a 3-1, 2.13 record. .
Rookie Jaimie Barria had an epic confrontation Giants’ veteran Brandon Belt on April 22. The at bat took 21 pitches and included 16 consecutive foul balls – before ending in a fly out. The 21-pitch at bat is generally accepted as MLB’s longest ever (although early records are not complete.)
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