The New York Yankees showed they can still win with a little scruff on their chins while Baltimore’s Tyler O’Neill might be the best player on Earth during the first game of the season.
And to no one’s surprise, Japanese star Shohei Ohtani delivered more big hits for the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers as Major League Baseball celebrated its domestic opening day with 14 games on Thursday.
New York’s Carlos Rodón — sporting a well-kept short beard — gave up just one run over 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven, leading the Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. In February, the Yankees announced that they were ending their 49-year ban on beards.
O’Neill went deep for a sixth straight opening day to extend his own record, connecting for a three-run homer in the Orioles’ 12-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He finished 3 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored.
Even more special, the Canadian was able to play in his home country for the first time on opening day.
Ohtani hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Dodgers, who improved to 3-0 this season with a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers beat the Cubs twice in Tokyo to open the season on March 18 and 19.
Here are a few more highlights from the first day of the six-month MLB season:
Yankees shake rough spring, get win
Austin Wells became the first catcher to hit a leadoff homer on opening day, sparking the Yankees to their win over the Brewers.
It was a good day in New York after a rough spring in Florida.
The Yankees were hit hard with injuries during Grapefruit League play, losing ace Gerrit Cole for the season after learning he needed Tommy John surgery. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton (sore elbows), reigning AL Rookie of the Year pitcher Luis Gil (lat strain), right-hander Clarke Schmidt (shoulder fatigue) and infielder DJ LeMahieu (left calf strain) also start the season on the injured list.
None of that mattered against the Brewers. New closer Devin Williams — an All-Star acquired from the Brewers in a December trade — worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam to seal the win.
Orioles muscle up
O’Neill’s record-extending homer was just one facet of Baltimore’s potent offense. The Orioles went deep six times in their lopsided win over the Blue Jays, including two homers for both catcher Adley Rutschman and center fielder Cedric Mullins.
Rutschman’s power display is a good indicator that he’s ready to bounce back from a slightly disappointing 2024 season when he hit .250 with 19 homers. The two-time All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick finished with three hits.
Winning White Sox
The Chicago White Sox took advantage of a much-needed fresh start, beating the Los Angeles Angels 8-1.
The White Sox were coming off a 41-121 record last season, which set the post-1900 major league record for losses in a season. Chicago’s still expected to be in rebuilding mode this summer, but at least for one day, the White Sox looked like an improved bunch.
