Hypothetical: when is a debut not a debut?

[packs]

I was still thinking about Dustin Fowler and his Moonlight Graham moment earlier this year. Hypothetically, if you make your debut in a game that gets rained out in the third inning, and then sent down the next day never to reach the majors again, did you ever make your debut?

[bravos4evr]

if they are going to replay the game entirely than no, you didn't because you would not have registered an official plate appearance.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

if they are going to replay the game entirely than no, you didn't because you would not have registered an official plate appearance.

Technically I suppose that's right, but I would still say under the hypothetical above that yes the guy played in the major leagues so it counts. By the way how is it treated if, say, a batter injures himself swinging at strike one and can't continue? Is he out (hard to believe), or does a new batter substitute, inheriting the count? If the latter (which has to be right) then the batter who swung at a pitch doesn't have an official plate appearance either. Yet that player clearly played in an official game.

[howard38]

/

[bravos4evr]

It's minutiae to be sure. But "technically" you have to have appeared in an official game and done something to garner such an appearance. Be it play the field , or hit or throw a pitch or "entered the game".

In a matter of fact, casual way, I'd say that you have to register a statistic to have debuted.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bravos4evr

It's minutiae to be sure. But "technically" you have to have appeared in an official game and done something to garner such an appearance. Be it play the field , or hit or throw a pitch or "entered the game".

In a matter of fact, casual way, I'd say that you have to register a statistic to have debuted.

So what about my hypothetical? Guy swung at a pitch, but I don't think he has an official at bat or any other statistic? But he clearly appeared, no?