How will the new Brewers players’ debuts match up with other Brew Crew debuts?

When (or if) the 2020 Major League Baseball season begins, the Brewers will have several new players who have never suited up in a Brewers uniform who will likely play important roles for the club. Players like outfielder Avisail Garcia, catcher Omar Narvaez, infielders Justin Smoak and Luis Urias, and pitchers Brett Anderson, Eric Lauer and Josh Lindblom will be making their debut with the Brewers in 2020 (hopefully).

The question: When they do make their debuts, will they start with a bang or a whimper? When compared to other Brewers, will any of these new players have a Brew Crew debut like Carlos Gomez? After coming to the Brewers in a trade with the Twins, Gomez made his Brewers debut on April 5, 2010 with four hits in five at-bats, a solo HR and a stolen base.

Or will any of the pitchers have a debut like Yovani Gallardo? Making his MLB and Brewers debut on June 18, 2007, Gallardo was the starting pitcher and winner in the Brewers 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. Gallardo went 6.1 innings and allowed only four hits and struck out four in the victory.

Let’s take a look at some of the Brewers debuts for some of the club’s top players over the years. Baseball-Reference.com on the Brewers’ team page lists the team’s Top 24 players in franchise history based on each players’ WAR rating (WAR stands for Wins Above Replacement). The stat gives a number to each players’ overall contribution to the team. Robin Yount tops the Brewers franchise with a 77.3 WAR, followed by Paul Molitor (60.0) and Ryan Braun is third (46.8).

Here is a snapshot of the top 24 Brewers player’s debut with the team.

Robin Yount, April 5, 1974: 0-for-1, walk

Paul Molitor, April 7, 1978: 1-for-5, one RBI

Ryan Braun, May 25, 2007: 1-for-4, two RBIs

Cecil Cooper, April 7, 1977: 1-for-4

Teddy Higuera, April 23, 1985: 5.1 IP, seven hits, 4 ER, five strikeouts (no decision-starting pitcher)

Don Money, April 6, 1973: 0-for-3

Jeff Cirillo, May 11, 1994: 0-for-0, came in as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning, no at-bat

Ben Sheets, April 5, 2001: 6.0 IP, six hits, 5 ER, five strikeouts (starting pitcher, losing pitcher)

George Scott, April 15, 1972: 0-for-4, one RBI

Jim Gantner, September 3, 1976: 2-for-4, one run scored, one walk

Geoff Jenkins, April 24, 1998: 2-for-4, solo HR, two runs scored

Ben Oglivie, April 8, 1978: 2-for-5, two runs scored, one walk

Carlos Gomez, April 5, 2010: 4-for-5, double, solo HR, two runs scored, stolen base

Sixto Lezcano, September 10, 1974: 3-for-5, one RBI

Chris Bosio, August 3, 1986: 3.0 IP, three hits, one earned run, one strikeout (came in as a reliever, no decision)

Gorman Thomas, April 6, 1973: 1-for-3, triple

Yovani Gallardo, June 18, 2007: 6.1 IP, four hits, 3 ER, 4 strikeouts (Starting pitcher, got the win)

Bill Wegman, September 14, 1985: 7.0 IP, five hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts (starting pitcher, no decision)

Mike Caldwell, June 19, 1977: 2 IP, no hits, one walk, one strikeout (came in as a reliever, no decision)

Jonathan Lucroy, May 21, 2010: 1-for-2

Prince Fielder, June 13, 2005: 0-for-4

Jeromy Burnitz, September 3, 1996: 0-for-4

Moose Haas, September 8, 1976: 3 IP, three hits, one earned run, two strikeouts (came in as a reliever, no decision)

Corey Hart, May 25, 2004: 0-for-1, strikeout

In addition to the above 24 players, the Brewers have five more players who played with the team who are members of baseball’s Hall of Fame (in addition to Yount and Molitor): Rollie Fingers, Hank Aaron, Ted Simmons, Trevor Hoffman and Don Sutton. Their Brewers debuts went as follows:

Rollie Fingers, April 11, 1981: 1.2 IP, two hits, no earned runs, one strikeout, one walk (came in as a reliever, got the save)

Hank Aaron, April 8, 1975: 0-for-3, walk

Ted Simmons, April 11, 1981: 0-for-4, one run scored, one strikeout

Trevor Hoffman, April 27, 2009: one inning pitched, no hits, no earned runs (came in as a reliever, no decision)

Don Sutton, 9 IP, complete game, eight hits allowed, four earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts (starting pitcher, got the loss)

Follow Jerry on Twitter @StatsonTapp