Welcome to the Majors, Derek Dietrich. Mr. 18,000 (According to Baseball-Reference).

Okay, so I said I wouldn't be doing these posts very often, but this one is special. According to Baseball Reference, there are presently (as of May 10, 2013), 18,000 players to have made at least one appearance in a Major League Baseball game. The question now becomes, who can lay claim to be the 18,000th player to make his Major League Debut? Meet Miami Marlins second baseman Derek Dietrich.

• Full Name: Derek Richard Dietrich
• Position: Second Baseman
• Bats: Left, Throws: Right
• Height: 6' 0", Weight: 200 lb.
• Major League Debut: May 8, 2013 vs. San Diego Padres

Dietrich started the game at second base for the Marlins, filling in for the Fish's regular second baseman, Donoval Solano, who was placed on the 15-day DL. He was penciled into the seventh spot of the lineup by manager Mike Redmond. Dietrich went 1-3 that afternoon, hitting a single in his first major league at-bat against Jason Marquis leading off the third inning. He would make it to third on a double by catcher Miguel Olivo, and was forced out at the plate when Adeiny Hechavarria grounded into a 1-2-3 double play (as depicted by the picture used on the card). Dietrich would later line out to rightfielder Will Venable in the fifth inning and strike out swinging with two men on base to end the seventh inning.

His official game line: 3 AB, 0 R, 1 H, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO, .333 BA, 1 PO, 1 A

Welcome to the Majors, Derek Dietrich.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama