Bryan Bullington Finally in Win Column

by Pat Lackey

Filed under: Pirates, Royals, MLB Milestones

If asked to name the two former No. 1 overall selections to record their first win in the 2010 season, most baseball fans could likely name one without batting an eye. Stephen Strasburg, picked first in last year's draft, has gone from prospect to hype machine to phenom in just a few short months.

The second name might not come as easily. Bryan Bullington, taken by the Pirates with the first pick in the 2002 draft, finally recorded his first career win on Sunday by throwing eight shutout innings for the Royals as they edged the Yankees 1-0. Since he was drafted in 2002, three other pitchers have been taken first overall and recorded wins in the big leagues (Strasburg, David Price, and Luke Hochevar).

That's not to imply that Bullington's had a ton of chances to get that first W. Sunday was just his 20th career appearance and his seventh start in a major league uniform. Hochevar, Price, and Strasburg were all in the majors within about a year of when they signed their first contracts; Bullington didn't make his Pirates debut until September 18, 2005 -- well over three years after being drafted. He pitched in just one game for the Pirates, then missed all of 2006 with Tommy John surgery.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jeff Clement Brooks Conrad Álex Cora Chris Coste