A Starlin is born

The Cubs called up 20-year-old Tennessee (AA) shortstop Starlin Castro today. He is slated to start for the Cubs tonight in Cincinnati and become the first major league player born in the 1990s. In honor of the occasion, I compiled a list of decade debuts:

Starlin Castro - born 3/24/1990, debuting 5/7/2010
Albert Pujols – born 1/16/1980, debuted 4/2/2001
Wilson Alvarez – born 3/24/1970, debuted 7/24/1989
Tim Conroy – born 4/3/1960, debuted 6/23/1978
Lloyd Allen – born 5/8/1950, debuted 9/1/1969
Dick Ellsworth – born 3/22/1940, debuted 6/22/1958
Johnny Antonelli – born 4/12/1930, debuted 7/4/1948
Walt Masterson – born 6/22/1920, debuted 5/8/1939
Joe Cicero – born 11/11/1910, debuted 9/20/1929
Mickey O’Neil – born 4/12/1900, debuted 6/19/1919
Stuffy McInnis – born 9/9/1890, debuted 4/12/1909
Lefty Herring – born 3/4/1880, debuted 5/16/1899
Amos Rusie - born 5/30/1871, debuted 5/9/1889
Frank Pearce – born 3/30/1860, debuted 10/4/1876

So he joins a varied mix of players, though it represents a fair amount of talent for a random selection of young prospects. Rusie is in the Hall, Pujols should be a lock and McInnis deserves a look from the Veterans Committee. Alvarez (once), Ellsworth (once) and Antonelli (five times) were all-stars, and Alvarez threw a no-hitter. On the other end of the spectrum, Cicero and Herring played fewer than 50 games and Pearce's debut was also his finale, his major league career over at age 16. Oddly enough, Castro was born on Alvarez' 20th birthday, Antonelli on O'Neil's 30th, and eight of the 14 were born between March 4th and April 12th.

What does this all mean for the Cubs? Chad Tracy will play more, but at Iowa. Mike Fontenot will start less at second, probably spot struggling Aramis Ramirez more at third and pinch-hit more if Castro becomes a starter. Ryan Theriot will play either more second base or exclusively second base, depending on Castro's performance at short.

We can only guess how his numbers will compare, but I wouldn't expect anywhere near his 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored with a .376 average in 26 games - not only because he's jumping from AA to the majors, but because without much power I don't see him batting above seventh in the lineup anytime soon unless Kosuke Fukudome struggles in the two spot.

But good luck to the youngster, and here's hoping for a long, healthy and successful career in Cubbie blue.