[Gambo]

As far as I know (since I haven't used it in a couple of versions) is when the initial pool of players is created in the random debut game a player is chosen based on the years he was in the majors so in 1901 Cal Ripken can be 32 years old. When in subsequent years they enter the draft pool it is at the age they debuted. (In Cal's case when he was 20).

I don't think using the default database you can have Cal debut at 18.(Unless something has changed) I.e. The random debut does not change age but rather season of debut.

The minors are yes essentially a holding box but there are many players historically who made their debut when they should be in AA still.