MLB Prospects: 7 MLB Debuts from Opening Weekend

With the 2012 Major League Baseball season now underway, it’s time to recap some of the notable prospect debuts from opening weekend.

But of all the highly-touted prospects to debut in the young season, who has been the most impressive?

There have definitely been plenty of options, both at the plate and on the mound:

After doubling and jumping the yard in his first two career games, A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has now homered in three straight games.

Braves’ shortstop Tyler Pastornicky is in the books after ripping a triple (partially thanks to a fragile Andres Torres) on Opening Day.

Matt Hague—or as I like to call him, the Pirates’ newest professional hitter—collected his first big-league knock, a game-tying single on Sunday that ultimately set up an Andrew McCutchen walk-off single.

Left-hander Hector Santiago was impressive for the White Sox on Saturday, as he picked up his first career save after tossing a scoreless ninth inning against the Rangers.

On Sunday night, White Sox right-hander Nate Jones flashed his plus fastball and changeup in a scoreless frame against the Rangers that included a strikeout of Josh Hamilton.

Also on Sunday, the Rangers’ 23-year-old southpaw Robbie Ross threw a scoreless inning against the White Sox that featured a strikeout of Paul Konerko.

And last but not least, David Phelps flashed the stuff that made him a lock to make the New York Yankees' bullpen out of Spring Training, which has never been an easy feat.

Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics

I've been pleasantly surprised with the success of Yoenis Cespedes thus far, not to mention his ability to launch tape-measure bombs with ease.

After doubling off Felix Hernandez and homering off Jason Vargas in his first two career starts last week in the Japan series, Cespedes is batting .308 through his first 13 big-league at-bats.

The 26-year-old Cuban defector swatted home runs on both Friday and Saturday night, and has already driven in seven runs this season. Oh, and he's also struck out in seven of his first 15 plate appearances. Vladimir Guererro, anyone?

His home run off Jason Vargas on Friday night traveled an estimated 462 feet.

Tyler Pastornicky, Atlanta Braves

Although the Braves were shut out by the New York Mets on Opening Day (and for the entire series for that matter), shortstop Tyler Pastornicky still enjoyed a solid big-league debut.

On Thursday the 22-year-old notched his first career hit, a triple, while also drawing a walk in a 1-for-2 performance.

Starting two of the three games in the Braves' opening series, the triple is Pastornicky's only hit through his first five at-bats.

Matt Hague, Pittsburgh Pirates

After going 0-for-3 in his first big-league start on Saturday, the Pirates' Matt Hague picked up his first career hit on Sunday as he came off the bench to deliver a game-tying pinch-hit single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Pirates ultimately won the game on a walk-off single by Andrew McCutchen in the bottom of the ninth.

Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox

One of three potential relievers in the mix to close games for the Chicago White Sox, left-hander Hector Santiago picked up the save in his first appearance of the season against the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

With a one-run lead headed into the bottom of the ninth, Santiago threw a perfect ninth inning while flashing a 95 mph fastball and wicked screwball. (That's right—a screwball.)

David Phelps, New York Yankees

Coming out of the Yankees' bullpen in Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the right-hander recorded the final two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Phelps, who figures to serves as the team's long reliever, shows a crisp low-90s fastball, as well as an absolute yack of a curveball (which may deserve a GIF of its own in the coming days).

This weekend Phelps snapped one off to Elliot Johnson, who didn't even come close to making contact.

Robbie Ross, Texas Rangers

Ross made his Major League debut on Sunday night—on national television nonetheless—working a scoreless eighth inning against the heart of the White Sox order.

The 23-year-old left-hander seemed a bit nervous at first (can you blame him?) but eventually settled in before striking out Paul Konerko to end the inning.

Before taking the mound in Arlington, Ross had yet to throw a pitch above Double-A.

Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox

Like Ross, baby-faced Nate Jones came out of the bullpen on Sunday night to make his big-league debut. The right-hander, whose arm action looks like a hybrid of Tommy Hanson's and Jason Motte's, showed a live fastball that reached 97 mph, as well as an upper-80s changeup with late sink and fade.

Despite walking two batters, Jones fanned Josh Hamilton to record the final out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

His control was shaky at times, but it was immediately clear that Jones has the two-pitch mix to be valuable as a late-inning reliever.