The fleeting nature of a baseball career

[Frobby]

Here’s the number of players who debuted in 2016 or earlier who never got into a major league game in 2017.

2016: 63/257

2015: 103/255

2014: 106/234

2013: 122/230

2012: 109/206

2011: 144/239

2010: 132/203

2009: 145/204

2008: 194/238

2007: 178/211

2006: 178/220

2005: 174/206

2004: 192/208

2003: 174/182

2002: 197/204

2001: 194/199

2000: 202/204

1999: 210/210

1998: 206/208

1997: 179/180

It’s just interesting to think that of all the guys who make a major league roster in a year, maybe 25% will be one and done, more than 50% won’t make it five years, about 80% won’t make it ten years, and 95% won’t make it 15 years.    It doesn’t last long.

And of course, then there’s all the guys who toil in the minors who never make the majors at all.

Last year, 1,469 players got into a major league game.    Of those, 25 had been playing for 15+ years, 192 had been playing for 10+ years, and  632 had been playing for 5+ years.   

Just something to think about when you watch a veteran major league player.     

[Frobby]

Trivia question: Of the 192 players from 2017 who have been playing for 10+ seasons, only 3 made their debut with the Baltimore Orioles.   (Which, by the way, is a disturbing fact.).    Can you name them?

[SteveA]

1 minute ago, Frobby said:

Trivia question: Of the 192 players from 2017 who have been playing for 10+ seasons, only 3 made their debut with the Baltimore Orioles.   (Which, by the way, is a disturbing fact.).    Can you name them?

Jim Johnson

Nick Markakis

Jayson Werth?

[SteveA]

Just now, SteveA said:

Jim Johnson

Nick Markakis

Jayson Werth?

Or Jose Bautista.   Maybe Werth never made it to the majors with us???

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, SteveA said:

Or Jose Bautista.   Maybe Werth never made it to the majors with us???

He didn't.

 

[Frobby]

6 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Jim Johnson

Nick Markakis

Jayson Werth?

 

6 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Or Jose Bautista.   Maybe Werth never made it to the majors with us???

Wow, you’re good.   I didn’t think anyone would get Bautista that quickly.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Frobby said:

 

Wow, you’re good.   I didn’t think anyone would get Bautista that quickly.

I was too busy checking to see if Loewen had an appearance in 2017.

[Frobby]

On the other hand, of the 59 players who debuted in 2009 and were still playing in the majors in 2017, five debuted with the Orioles.    Who are they?   (No looking!)

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

On the other hand, of the 59 players who debuted in 2009 and are still playing, five debuted with the Orioles.    Who are they?   (No looking!)

Hope you are not counting Koji, he retired.

[Frobby]

Just now, Can_of_corn said:

Hope you are not counting Koji, he retired.

I amended my question before I saw this.   Now says, was still in the majors in 2017.    But I didn’t know Koji had retired.   He was still a solid reliever last year, but I think he picked the right time to call it a career.    

[PaulFolk]

5 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Hope you are not counting Koji, he retired.

I don't think he's officially retired yet. From what I can tell he's leaning toward it, though, especially if he only gets minor-league offers.

To semi-answer Frobby's question, Matt Wieters, David Hernandez, and Koji are three.

[backwardsk]

7 minutes ago, Frobby said:

On the other hand, of the 59 players who debuted in 2009 and were still playing in the majors in 2017, five debuted with the Orioles.    Who are they?   (No looking!)

Wieters, Tillman, Matusz.

[Frobby]

Matusz didn’t pitch in the majors last year.   

[PaulFolk]

Just now, backwardsk said:

Wieters, Tillman, Matusz.

Not Matusz. Didn't play in the majors in 2017.

So we've got Wieters, Hernandez, Koji, and Tillman. Struggling on the fifth.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, PaulFolk said:

I don't think he's officially retired yet. From what I can tell he's leaning toward it, though, especially if he only gets minor-league offers.

To semi-answer Frobby's question, Matt Wieters, David Hernandez, and Koji are three.

Those are the three I had.