Opening day of the 2025 MLB season started March 27, and to many players, it is key to start off the season successfully. The first game of an MLB season can tell a lot, so let’s look over the most notable stats and moments from the beginning of a wonderful 2025 season.
Thursday was Opening Day in the U.S, and it had many notable performances to excite their respectable fans. The Cincinnati Reds hosted the San Francisco Giants, and the Reds looked to Ian Gibaut to close the game up 3-2 in the ninth. The close out was spoiled when catcher Patrick Bailey singled on a ground ball that snuck past the second baseman and scored the runner Jung Hoo Lee. However, just tying the game was not enough for the Giants, because when Wilmer Flores came up to the plate with two outs he rocked the baseball into the stands and gave the Giants a critical 6-3 lead. That was the final score, as shutdown closer Camilo Doval closed out the game. The Reds reluctantly sent out reliever Ian Gibaut into the ninth to tally the save due to All Star closer Alexis Diaz going down with an injury a few days before the game. This obviously contributed to this heartbreaking loss for Reds fans.
Over in Toronto, it would only get worse for the home team. The Blue Jays faced the Baltimore Orioles on their home turf, but that home field advantage would be nullified as the Orioles completely outmatched their opponents 12-2. Key performers like Adley Rutchmen and Cedric Mullins both hit two home runs, but the focus was on outfielder Tyler O’Neil and his record extending homer. O’Neil had previously gone deep in five straight opening days, and with his home run in the top of the third he extended the record he already owned at six straight opening day home runs (CNN).
Even a two homer game could not save the Athletics, as Tyler Soderstrom accounted for both runs in their 4-2 loss versus the Seattle Mariners. Seattle stormed back, scoring three runs in the eighth and completing the comeback for their home-town fans.
The Yankees beat the Brewers 4-2, and catcher Austin Wells’ lead off home run cemented him as the first catcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run on opening day (APnews). Later, Anthony Volpe would hit a home run and All Star free agent pickup Devin Willaims would earn his first save as a Yankee.
Wilyer Abreu was the hero for the visiting Red Sox on opening day with his two home runs, including a go ahead 3 run homer in the top of the ninth. Wilder’s second launch of the day gave the Sox the lead, and would end up resulting in the final score 5-2.
The Philadelphia Phillies won their game against the Nationals in extra innings, but not before giving up the lead in the eight off a clutch Luis García single. The top of the tenth is where the Phillies would pull away with an Alec Bohm two run double. The Phillies would extend their lead off catcher J.T Realmuto’s two run triple. Final score, 7-3.
Kyle Manzardo must love opening day, finishing just a single away from the cycle in the Guardians’ extra inning win against the Kansas City Royals.
The Pirates and the Marlins battled it out on opening day. Pirates’ superstar pitcher Paul Skenes pitched five innings with seven strikeouts and two earned runs. The Pirates would have the lead up to three runs, but the Marlins crawled back scoring on a bloop single by Otto Lopez. Dan Myers would come up next, down by one run, and hit a single up the middle to tie the ballgame. This rally in the eighth sparked life into the Marlins’ offense, and in the bottom ninth Kyle Stowers would hit a high pitch to score the runner on third, completing the three run comeback and giving Marlins fans a walk off to celebrate.
