PHILADELPHIA -- Remember when Weston Wilson homered in his first plate appearance for the Phillies in 2023, following 2,836 plate appearances in the Minor Leagues over seven seasons? We do, especially because it happened in the second inning of Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
It marked the first time in AL/NL history that a team had a player homer in his Major League debut and a pitcher throw a no-hitter in the same game, per Elias Sports Bureau.
It got us wondering about other memorable MLB debuts in Phillies history.
Here are 10 of the best (feel free to disagree):
Ed Freed
Sept. 11, 1942
Freed had eight total bases, a franchise record for a Phillie in his MLB debut. He finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, one triple, one intentional walk and two runs scored. The eight bases are tied for the seventh most in an MLB debut. The four hits are tied for second.
Freed played just 12 more games for the Phillies that season. He joined the military the following year and never played again in the big leagues.
Ted Kazanski
June 25, 1953
Kazanski went 3-for-6 with two doubles and four RBIs against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. His four RBIs are a franchise record for a player making his MLB debut. Fred Jacklitsch (April 29, 1901), Denny Sothern (Sept. 10, 1926), Ed Sanicki (Sept. 19, 1949), Ricky Jordan (July 17, 1988) and John Mayberry Jr. (May 23, 2009) each had three.
Weston Wilson
Aug. 9, 2023
As we mentioned above, the drama, joy and history of Wilson’s debut is difficult to beat. A long Minor League career, a homer in his first at-bat with his family watching? During a no-hitter?
Jimmy Rollins
Sept. 17, 2000
The greatest shortstop in franchise history went 2-for-4 with a triple, a stolen base and a walk in his MLB debut. It was as much of a blast watching Rollins fly around the bases as it was hearing Harry Kalas make the call.
Pat Burrell
May 24, 2000
Other players might have had more hits, RBIs or total bases in their MLB debut with the Phillies, but don’t forget the hype surrounding Burrell. He was the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft. He then went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in his debut game in Houston.
Niles Jordan
Aug. 26, 1951
Jordan tossed a three-hit shutout in his MLB debut in the second game of a doubleheader against the Reds at Shibe Park. He struck out four and walked two. According to Baseball Reference, it was the highest Game Score (83) by any Phillies pitcher making his MLB debut.
Brett Myers
July 24, 2002
Like Burrell and Rollins, there was plenty of hype surrounding Myers’ MLB debut. He was the 12th overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft, then allowed two hits and one run in eight innings during a victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Myers struck out five and walked only one.
Mick Abel
May 18, 2025
Abel outpitched Pirates ace Paul Skenes in his MLB debut at Citizens Bank Park. Abel, the Phillies’ first-round Draft pick (No. 15 overall) in 2020, pitched six scoreless innings, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to do that in his MLB debut since Jerad Eickhoff in 2015. Abel struck out nine, tying Curt Simmons (1947) for the most strikeouts in an MLB debut by a Phillies pitcher since at least 1901. He allowed five hits and didn't walk a batter.
Curt Simmons
Sept. 28, 1947
Simmons, who was just 18, pitched a five-hit complete game in a victory over the New York Giants in the second game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park. Simmons allowed one run, walked six and struck out nine.
Larry Christenson
April 13, 1973
At just 19, Christenson carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Mets at Veterans Stadium before allowing a run in the final frame on a wild pitch. He allowed five hits and one earned run, walked six and struck out three.