NEW YORK (AP) — As if reaching the major leagues wasn’t enough, Brandon Finnegan struck out Derek Jeter in his very first inning.
The 21-year-old left-hander became the first player from the 2014 amateur draft to make his big league debut, pitching two perfect innings Saturday in the Kansas City Royals’ 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees.
Selected in the first round from Texas Christian with the 17th pick overall, Finnegan signed for a bonus of $2,200,600.
He relieved with Kansas City trailing 6-1 and retired John Ryan Murphy on a flyout to center with his first pitch, a 92 mph fastball. Finnegan struck out Jacoby Ellsbury on a changeup and Jeter on a 94 mph fastball.
Finnegan was 2 years old when Jeter made his major league debut in 1995.