Watching highly touted Tigers prospect, Jacob Turner, make his major league debut, I'll compare it briefly to that of another former super prospect, Justin Verlander.
The 2 things they have in common for their first starts, is they both pitched 5 1/3 innings, and they both lost. Verlander's day: 4 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts vs the Indians on July 5th, 2005. Turner's day was slightly better: 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts.
Admitting some nerves, and for all it's worth, he looked pretty good. One gnarly number that's concerning: the 5 stolen bases he allowed. He'll go back to the minors now, specifically to Toledo and not Erie (where he was brought up from) where I hope he'll work on holding runners close, gaining more command on what could very be a nasty curveball, and most importantly, get ready for next season.
After watching him get an ovation after Jim Leyland pulled him from his start, it's obvious that the fans are ready to watch this 20-yr-old continue to blossom. And there's no reason to believe that, like Verlander, he can't come to the big club next season and not make an immediate impact. And for those of you who think he's ready now, can take a deep breath and begin to realize that he's not there. Soon. Let him mature down the stretch.
No need to waste him. Definitely no need to trade him.
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