The best Major League debuts in Padres history

SAN DIEGO -- From Dave Winfield to Jackson Merrill, Padres history is lined with highly awaited debuts. But what about those debut games themselves? Who turned in the best performance in a big league debut?

Here’s a look at the 10 best debut games in Padres history:

1. Jimmy Jones: Sept. 21, 1986

Jones was one batter away from the greatest debut game in baseball history. That one batter, it turns out, was opposing pitcher Bob Knepper. Only Knepper’s third-inning triple stood between Jones and a perfect game. Instead, he blanked the Astros over nine innings, becoming the first pitcher since Juan Marichal to pitch a one-hit shutout in his big league debut.

2. Bob Shirley: April 10, 1977

Shirley was thrown into a gauntlet. His first big league start came during the opening series of the 1977 season in Cincinnati -- against the two-time defending champion Big Red Machine. Shirley proceeded to pitch 8 2/3 innings, then induced a harmless ground ball to second. Only Mike Champion’s error prevented a shutout. Four unearned runs scored in the frame. But the Padres won 12-4 -- and Shirley’s 8 2/3 innings without an earned run against that offense deserves its due. Shirley’s 11 strikeouts remain the most for a Padres pitcher in his debut.

3. Tony Gwynn: July 19, 1982

Called up to much fanfare midseason in 1982, Gwynn’s first game didn’t disappoint. In his first plate appearance, he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field. In the eighth inning, Gwynn roped a double to left-center for the first of his 3,141 career hits. As the baseball was retrieved, Pete Rose, who was backing up the play, famously told Gwynn, “I didn’t realize this was your first game -- nice going, kid.” Gwynn followed with a single in the ninth as well but was stranded as the tying run in a 7-6 Padres loss.

4. Dave Freisleben: April 26, 1974

Done in by Champion’s error, Shirley couldn’t quite complete his debut start. Freisleben did. He and Jones are the only pitchers in franchise history to pitch a complete game in their big league debuts. Freisleben allowed two runs on four hits, outdueling Steve Carlton in a Padres victory over the Phillies. He punched out a young Mike Schmidt.

5. John Sipin: May 24, 1969

As far as unique debut games go, Sipin’s probably tops the list. Facing the Cubs’ Ken Holtzman, he tripled in each of his first two at-bats in his debut -- the only player since at least 1901 to do so. He’s one of only three players in the past 100 years with multiple triples in his first big league game, joining Willie McCovey in 1959 and Roy Weatherly in 1936. Strangely enough, those would be the only two triples of Sipin’s career.

6. Logan Allen: June 18, 2019

Allen’s debut is best remembered for who was in attendance at Petco Park that night. Legendary wrestler John Cena had met Allen when he was a Minor Leaguer working toward a breakthrough. The two became friends, and in a motivational tactic, Cena bet Allen $1 that he wouldn’t reach the big leagues. That night, Cena was on hand to pay up. But Allen’s debut wasn’t merely a feel-good story. He was dominant that night, working seven scoreless, three-hit innings as the Padres beat the Brewers, 4-1. Cena enjoyed every second of it.

7. Fernando Tatis Jr.: March 28, 2019

The day Tatis arrived was also the day Manny Machado debuted with the Padres, and it marked a turning point in the history of the franchise. The sport’s top prospect at the time, Tatis earned a callup sooner than many expected. At 20 years, 85 days old, he was the youngest player in franchise history to debut on Opening Day -- and the youngest overall since Adrian Beltre in 1999. He wasted no time justifying that callup, singling off Madison Bumgarner in his first career at-bat, then dropping a bunt single in his second. He finished 2-for-3 -- the youngest player with multiple hits on Opening Day since Robin Yount in 1975.

8. Anthony Rizzo: June 9, 2011

Much like Tatis, Rizzo was a well-regarded prospect whose debut was highly anticipated in San Diego. Of course, Rizzo’s tenure didn’t quite work out like Tatis’ has. But before he was traded to the Cubs after the 2011 season, Rizzo broke through with the Padres. In his debut, he missed a home run off veteran right-hander Liván Hernández by inches, settling instead for a triple. Rizzo also worked a pair of walks and was the catalyst behind a 7-3 Padres victory over the Nationals.

9. Jake Peavy: June 22, 2002

Like Shirley, Peavy gets bonus points for difficulty. His debut came against the four-time reigning American League champion Yankees -- in a Saturday afternoon national TV game at Qualcomm Stadium. More than 60,000 packed the Mission Valley ballpark, and Peavy put on a show -- even though the Padres would eventually lose, 1-0. He allowed three hits over six innings, and punched out Derek Jeter in the top of the first with a nasty slider for his first career strikeout.

10. Patrick Kivlehan: Aug. 20, 2016

With his 2-for-4 debut, Kivlehan remains the only player in Padres history to hit a home run and record a multi-hit game in his big league debut. That home run was a moonshot, too. Kivlehan turned on a fastball from Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray and sent it off the back wall of the second deck in left field -- rarefied territory at Petco Park. Kivlehan only spent a week with the Padres, but his debut was a memorable one.