The career of the baseball player Tyler O’Neill is decorated with an unusual yet impressive accolade – he holds the unique tradition of hitting home runs on every Opening Day game since his initial absence in 2018. This has become a defining streak for O’Neill who didn’t smack a home run during his first appearance in 2019 but has been consistent ever since. Often, sports followers have raised the question if this extraordinary feat qualifies to be a big-league record, and the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. Certainly, the record had already been achieved last season when he struck his fifth success.
Before the advent of O’Neill, this powerful record was shared by three players known for their catching skills: Yogi Berra, in the service of the Yankees from 1955 to 1958, Gary Carter, who upheld the record for the Expos between 1977 and 1980, and Todd Hundley, a shining star for the Mets from 1994 to 1997. These athletes each had their record serving a single team, unlike O’Neill, who has brought his record to St. Louis from 2020 to 2023, then to Boston in 2024, and finally to Baltimore in 2025. Of his total 110 career home runs, 5.45 percent of them fell on Opening Day, yet another fascinating statistic.
In a similar vein, Sandy Alcántara, the ace of Miami Marlins, will soon be a significant headline as he is poised to become a hot trade prospect. Alcántara, who recently came back from the Tommy John surgery, showed his finesse on the field when he was just one strike short from a no-hitter into the sixth inning in a match against Pittsburgh. An emerging star in the realm of baseball.
Among other players carving out their own journey, Luis Robert Jr. of Chicago White Sox, the center fielder, stands out. If he can dodge injuries, which have kept him off the field for most of three seasons in the last four years, he would arguably be among the best hitters accessible for trade. But there are other prominent players with a history of injuries that might catch the eyes of scouts.
One name that comes to mind is the three-time MVP Mike Trout. Despite only managing to play an average of 67 games in the last four seasons due to injuries and hitting 34 years of age, Trout could make a valuable addition to any team; that is, if he consents to waive his no-trade clause and a team agrees to shoulder his substantial salary for the ongoing season. His potential future earnings from 2026 to 2030 will also play a role in these trade dealings.
In other news, Mookie Betts who found himself commanding the headlines in Los Angeles had to miss a trip to Japan due to health issues. Despite falling sick, Betts has soldiered on, making a comeback and reclaiming his spot in the lineup. Meanwhile, Michael Kopech’s absence in training was due to a stomach bug, a setback that he was able to overcome.
Yet another player who succumbed to illness on Opening Day was Kiké Hernández. So severe was Hernández’s condition that he missed his team introductions completely and likely wasn’t even at the ballpark.
Adding to the list of sidelined players, the Red Sox had to shelve Liam Hendriks due to an ‘elbow inflammation’. Given Hendriks’ hard-fought journey through lymphoma and then Tommy John surgery which held him back to only five big-league innings since 2023, it is hoped his latest health issue is not too severe.
In a separate incident, following pointed comments by Jazz Chisholm Jr., Miguel Rojas made it clear that he doesn’t see a need to defend himself.
The Cardinals caused quite a stir when they attempted to trade Nolan Arenado during the offseason. The deal ultimately fell through and Arenado stood out in the Cardinals’ opening day victory over the Twins with a triumphant home run.
In the realm of baseball gear, there’s been a change in official equipment. Louisville Slugger, a long-time staple of the league, has been replaced by Marucci and Victus as the sanctioned MLB bat.
As we turn our eyes towards televised sports coverage, ESPN’s ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ is headed towards the curtain call. This season marks the 36th season of covering intense baseball action, and for now, it is set to be the last. Whether it truly ends its tenure or continues will unravel with time.