Baseball, like life, is filled with things beyond your control. For prospects, the most uncontrollable aspect is getting called up. Sure, performance has a lot to do with it, but ask Kris Bryant about not making the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day roster in 2015. Some things are just out of your hands. Meanwhile, for some, the control is literally in the palm of their hands. And even then, the outcome is not always fair.
This weekend, we had a pair of pitching prospects make their major league debuts. Blake Snell (featured here) received an unexpected call-up to make a spot start for the Tampa Bay Rays, while Aaron Blair looks to have a more permanent role with the Atlanta Braves.
Snell showed impressive control against the New York Yankees and was optioned back to the minors after the game. Blair had little authority over the ball against the New York Mets but gets to stay. Life, baseball. Baseball, life.
We'll dig a little more into Snell below -- spoiler alert: He is in the top 10 -- but let's take a quick glance at Blair.