Former 2nd overall pick Danny Hultzen makes MLB debut with Cubs
Danny Hultzen has finally made the show.
After the Seattle Mariners selected him with the second overall pick in 2011, Hultzen is making his big-league debut with the Chicago Cubs, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
The 29-year-old has taken a circuitous route to the majors since being a top recruit in a historically deep draft.
Following a six-game stint in the Arizona Fall League, Hultzen made 32 starts between three different minor-league levels, authoring a 3.01 ERA and making the 2012 All-Star Futures Game before suffering a torn labrum and rotator cuff.
Hultzen continued to deal with injuries, throwing 10 more innings with the Mariners before being granted free agency in 2016. He sat out the 2017 campaign to complete his university degree before signing a minor-league deal with the Cubs in 2018.
Since joining the Cubs, Hultzen has logged 16 minor-league appearances, working effectively in relief for Chicago's Triple-A club in Iowa this season. The left-hander has struck out 23 of the 59 batters he's faced over 14 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with nine walks.
When Hultzen appears in the majors, he'll become the 30th player of the 33 first-round selections in 2011 to make it to MLB. The Kansas City Royals called up fifth overall pick Bubba Starling earlier this season, making Hultzen the last of the top 29 picks to not yet make a major-league appearance.
The only remaining first-rounders from that draft to not advance to the majors are San Francisco Giants infielder Levi Michael (the Minnesota Twins' 30th pick), Milwaukee Brewers infielder Jake Hager (the Tampa Bay Rays' 32nd pick), and free-agent pitcher Kevin Matthews (the Texas Rangers' 33rd pick).
First overall pick Gerrit Cole headlined the 2011 MLB Draft, and he signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates that included a record-breaking bonus. Trevor Bauer, Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez, George Springer, Jose Fernandez, Brandon Nimmo, and Sonny Gray also figured prominently.