These are the best debuts in Pirates history

You only get one chance to make a first impression. We often look at players through the lens of a career or a particular season, but for countless kids, scholastic players or Minor Leaguers, that Major League debut is still that first dream.

Over 20,000 players have appeared in a Major League game, and over 900 have made their Major League debut with the Pirates. These are the top five debut games in franchise history:

5. Andrew McCutchen, June 4, 2009: 2-4, BB, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB

McCutchen got a call late on June 3 that he was coming up to Pittsburgh, so he didn’t show up to PNC Park until less than an hour before the first pitch of the afternoon game. He was told he was batting leadoff and playing center field, and he looked like he had been in the Majors for years, not minutes.

McCutchen showed a little bit of everything he offered as a player in his debut. Offensive prowess, patience, speed -- the traits that would translate to the best career of any Pirate in the 21st century. Before the five All-Star Games, the Silver Sluggers, the Gold Glove and the 2013 MVP, there was an afternoon in June where he offered something the franchise was in dire need of: hope.

4. Jason Kendall, April 1, 1996: 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Most of the franchise’s best players had poor or inconspicuous debuts. Willie Stargell struck out in his only at-bat in his debut. Vern Law allowed seven runs and surrendered the lead in the eighth in his first outing. Even Roberto Clemente went just 1-for-4 his first game.

That’s what made Kendall’s debut so impressive. Not only did he catch an Opening Day shutout, he put the Pirates on the board in his first at-bat with an RBI hit off Kevin Brown, who would lead MLB in ERA that season. It was one of three hits Kendall would have that afternoon, as he quickly set the pace for the first of three All-Star nods he would earn as a Pirate.

3. Tim Wakefield, July 31, 1992: 9 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 6 H, 5 BB, 10 K

There have been 19 Pirates pitchers in the Modern Era who threw a complete game in their Major League debut, 17 of whom did so before the Expansion Era. The two more contemporary pitchers are Randy Tomlin and Wakefield.

A Minor League first baseman-turned-knuckleballer, Wakefield’s signature pitch flew beautifully at Three Rivers Stadium that night. The Cardinals managed to get some baserunners early and even plate a couple of unearned runs, but Wakefield retired 10 of his final 11 batters to earn a complete game. His 10 strikeouts are also the third most for a Pirate in their Major League debut, behind Dick Hall (1955) and Nick Maddox (1907), who each had 11.

2. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Sept. 1, 2020: 3-5, HR, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI

Still in the midst of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the earliest stages of a rebuild, Pirates fans needed a reason for hope. Their top prospect Hayes was the best option they had, and the third baseman’s debut was the highlight of a glum season.

Hayes hit a game-tying home run in the eighth and threw out the potential go-ahead run at home in the ninth, showing potential on both sides of the ball immediately. While Hayes’ bat was usually an issue in his time with the Pirates, his defense was exemplary, eventually becoming a Gold Glover at the hot corner.

1. Nick Kingham, April 29, 2018: 7 IP, 1 H, 9 K

There were a couple of 21st-century pitchers that just missed the cut. Jared Jones struck out 10 and picked up 22 whiffs in 2024. Paul Maholm spun eight scoreless innings to beat the Brewers in 2005. Max Kranick threw five perfect innings before a rain delay ended his afternoon in 2021.

But what can truly compete with potential history? Kingham’s Pirates career spanned only 19 starts over two seasons, but his first was brilliant, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning. By the time Paul DeJong finally got his ground-ball single with two outs in the seventh, Kingham had struck out nine Cardinals.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kingham was the first player in the Expansion Era to retire the first 20 batters of his debut. His Major League career may have been brief, but he can stake claim to having one of the greatest first games ever.