MLB Opening Day 2022 – What we saw, live updates and takeaways as baseball
The 2022 MLB season is here! Thursday’s Opening Day action didn’t disappoint, and Friday kept the party going with clutch performances, mascot antics and more.
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox wrote another chapter in their historic rivalry, with Josh Donaldson providing the walk-off win in extra innings. The Detroit Tigers started off their season with another win in walk-off fashion against the Chicago White Sox.
Other highlights from the second day of the MLB season included the Philadelphia Phillies cruising to victory against the Oakland Athletics, the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers outlasting the Colorado Rockies, then Robbie Ray and Carlos Correa making their debuts for the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins, respectively.
The Miami Marlins, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays also began their 162-game journeys on Friday.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the best moments, highlights and takeaways from the first two days of the MLB season.
Season preview: Power ranks | Predictions | Moves that rocked the offseason
ESPN+: Passan’s predictions | How Opening Day was saved | 2022 changes
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Once-in-a-lifetime at bat
Jeremy Peña‘s first career home run came at the perfect time.
His parents were being interviewed live as Peña hit a dinger in the top of the seventh.
Baseball is the best.
Jeremy Peña hits his first career home run during a live interview with his parents during the at-bat. pic.twitter.com/GWE6IfiIRT
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 9, 2022
Profar goes yard
Jurickson Profar nails a homer with the bat flip to match. Talk about starting the season in style.
First home run of the season ☑️
First bat flip of the season ☑️Courtesy of @JURICKSONPROFAR pic.twitter.com/Y6KBVnpZQB
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 9, 2022
Astro over the outfield
Aledmys Diaz goes deep for the fourth-inning tie.
Sent that over the Angels in the Outfield. pic.twitter.com/fp5AartMmV
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 9, 2022
Houston doing work
The Astros are making plays at the plate and in the outfield. Jose Altuve hit a lead-off home run to get the game started, then Alex Bregman showed off the glove work with an athletic play in the bottom of the second.
No time wasted.
Jose Altuve leads the game off with a dinger.
(@MLB x @ZipRecruiter) pic.twitter.com/5Hx7WjfVNi
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2022
A beautiful play by @ABREG_1.
Watch #FridayNightBaseball on @AppleTVPlus now. pic.twitter.com/29tESrZEUQ
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2022
Here comes Toronto
After being down 7-0, the Blue Jays tied things up against the Rangers in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a three-run moonshot from Teoscar Hernandez.
In case you didn’t know…
WE ARE #NEXTLEVEL pic.twitter.com/xQXZhaPJdg
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 9, 2022
THE JACKET IS BACK – AND IT’S #NEXTLEVEL! @TeoscarH ? pic.twitter.com/Ba8guRZSqS
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 9, 2022
Bigger than baseball
Rockies’ shortstop Jose Iglesias‘ first hit of the season was a meaningful one.
Today’s RBI single meant more?@JoseIglesias_SS got his first hit after the passing of his father a few weeks ago, who watched every AB of his career. pic.twitter.com/4dntuZr7pL
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 9, 2022
Birthday rakes
Mets’ outfielder Jeff McNeil celebrated his birthday in style. Who needs cake when you can bash a solo shot like this?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOMER! @JeffMcNeil805 pic.twitter.com/VQsfqpzuYy
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 8, 2022
New teams, same stars
Big-time trades and free-agent signings rocked this offseason, and these players aren’t wasting any time getting comfortable in their new threads.
Freddie and KB pick up their first hits in their new threads. pic.twitter.com/K7CzwROMtS
— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2022
¡Por todo lo alto, @teamcjcorrea! ????#VamosTwins pic.twitter.com/OFVsumHEVm
— Los Twins (@twinsbeisbol) April 8, 2022
ICYMI. ? pic.twitter.com/GzeT1TZH2X
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 8, 2022
Hit No. 1 for Corey. pic.twitter.com/tRBmcGzHBP
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 8, 2022
Castellanos with the big hit
Nick Castellanos‘ first RBI in a Phillies uniform paired with Bryce Harper flying around the bases sure is a thing of beauty.
Need a hit? Call Nick pic.twitter.com/CusABY0oot
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 8, 2022
QB1 on the diamond
Quarterback Russell Wilson hasn’t taken a snap for the Denver Broncos, but he has stepped on the mound at Coors Field. Wilson, who was drafted by the Rockies in 2010, threw out the first pitch on Friday. His catcher was another fresh face in Colorado — outfielder Kris Bryant.
Right down the middle. @DangeRussWilson‘s still got it! ⚾️@Rockies x #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/lqfhV1xtrw
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 8, 2022
New Kids on the Block ?@KrisBryant_23 ? @DangeRussWilson pic.twitter.com/66IVCYFTCQ
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 8, 2022
A Red Sox-Yankees game ending in extra innings?…
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