A former Houston Astros 10th-round draft pick will make his MLB debut on Friday after six long seasons in the minor leagues. Unfortunately, the debut will not come for Houston but rather one of the National League's bottom dwellers.
Former University of Southern California standout CJ Stubbs will make his big league debut on Friday after the Washington Nationals called up the catcher to the active roster. With Drew Millas suffering a fractured finger during Wednesday's loss to the New York Yankees, Washington had to make a roster move, and the former Astros draft pick fit the bill of what they were looking for.
The Nationals are calling up catcher C.J. Stubbs, per source. He’ll replace Drew Millas, who fractured his finger in today’s game.
— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) August 27, 2025
Ex-Astros Prospect CJ Stubbs Could Finally Make MLB Debut with Nats
Making an MLB debut is a memory that will last a lifetime. That moment coming in a meaningless game for a team at the bottom of the standings in late August, however, cannot be how the catcher dreamed this scenario would play out in his head.
Washington opens up a three-game series with the New York Mets on Friday night. While Riley Adams is likely to get the starting nod in that particular matchup, there is a distinct possibility that Stubbs gets his opportunity at some point this weekend.
The Nationals have nothing to play for at this point, and the catcher position, in particular, is still a mess. Keibert Ruiz has not panned out the way the franchise had hoped after acquiring him via trade. Riley Adams is barely hitting above the Mendoza line. Why not allow the youngsters to show their worth to the front office on the game's biggest stage?
Given the fact that Stubbs has had his issues in the minors this season — a slash line of 148/.279/.240 with three home runs and 15 RBIs before being called up — expectations will likely be low. Instead of looking at that as a reason to feel defeated before ever taking the field, Stubbs should view this as an opportunity to rewrite the book on his 2025 season.
If he can manage to perform when his number is called in D.C., no one will remember his minor-league struggles this season.
Whenever that time comes for Stubbs, the best thing the ex-Astros catcher can do is be ready to perform, as the opposition won't be out to do him any favors.