 He played eleven seasons in the minors and one in NPB before playing his first game in the MLB.While having an impressive offensive season for the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs, Short was called up to the MLB by the Washington Nationals after twelve years in the minors and made his MLB debut on June 10, , collecting a pinch hit RBI in his first MLB at-bat.Rick's big league hit, after so many minor league at bats and seasons, became a national story.