What can we expect from Trevor May's Major League debut?

Twins fans have been anticipating Trevor May's Major League debut since he came back to Minnesota as one half of the return for Ben Revere. At the time he was coming off of a down season at Double-A, but there's little doubt about what the front office liked: velocity, stuff, the ability to miss bats. May was also known for wild pitches, hit batters, and sub-par command.

May seems to have potentially solved the command issue, at least in part, walking a career-low 9.5% (career rate 11.5%) while continuing to strike out nearly one out of every four batters faced. Nobody should be confident enough to say his improved walk rate will translate directly into his walk rates for the Twins, but at the same time May is likely in a better position to attack Major League hitters now than he was in the past couple years.

In spite of his ability to rack up strikeouts and an arm and body that is made for durability, May's upside is probably as a mid-rotation starter. His low to mid-90s fastball is a plus pitch, but the change has come on strong this season and has gained some fans among scouts. The curve and slider are average offerings according to most, but will be better if May can have a feel for them consistently.

The numbers aren't as sexy as Alex Meyer's in terms of strikeouts, but May's season in Rochester will tell you exactly why Twins fans are so excited about tonight: 91 strikeouts in 95 innings, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 2.93 ERA in 17 starts. That's pretty good.

Just for fun, let's look back at a couple of other highly-anticipated Major League debuts by Twins pitchers in their first start.

Kyle Gibson
Date: June 29, 2013
Age: 25

Gibson's debut could have easily come two years prior, when he was 23, but an ill-timed decline and injury and eventually Tommy John surgery stunted his first couple years' development in the show. He won, holding the Royals to two runs over six innings, striking out five and not walking anyone. Justin Morneau and Trevor Plouffe had big days in a 6-2 victory.

Matt Garza
Date: August 11, 2006
Age: 22

I was at Garza's Major League debut, having written Dugout Splinters for the series and having chronicled Garza's rise through the minor leagues that season - from Fort Myers to Minnesota. He pumped in a couple of fastballs before Toronto caught up to him, and his debut ended like a five-day bender: face down in a gutter on the bad side of town. By the time the third out was recorded in the top of the third, the Jays were up 7-0 and Garza was already gone.

Francisco Liriano
Date: September 14, 2005
Age: 21

We'd been hearing for a while about Liriano's fastball and power slider. I was at the Old Chicago just outside of Uptown in Minneapolis, pretending to listen to my friends' conversations as Liriano fired bullets against the Tigers in Detroit. He finished five innings on 69 pitches and was done, allowing a pair of runs having struck out six and walked one. The Twins lost, 4-2, thanks to a two-run single off of Juan Rincon in the bottom of the eighth.

Johan Sanana
Date: April 7, 2000
Age: 21

Santana had been selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Marlins but was immediately flipped to Minnesota for Jared Camp, and had to be kept on the 25-man roster all season. He bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, but after making one relief appearance he ended up being the team's fifth starter through April. In his debut the Twins lost 10-6, but Santana left with Minnesota leading 6-1. He threw five innings, struck out two and walked two, and the only run he allowed was a solo homer from journeyman catcher Brian Johnson.

Game thread is up soon. See you there to cheer on Trevor May!