11 top performers from MLB's Opening Day
Nothing's better than making a strong first impression. Here we identify 11 players who authored incredible performances during Major League Baseball's 2025 Opening Day.
11. Spencer Torkelson, Tigers
| PA | R | H | HR | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Torkelson wasn't even guaranteed to make the Tigers' Opening Day roster entering spring training, but the former first overall pick looks like a different hitter of late. Torkelson reached base in all five of his plate appearances and is sporting an MLB-best 5.000 OPS to start the year.
10. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers
| IP | H | R | K | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
"Nasty Nate" looked terrific against his former team, striking out nine - including Rafael Devers three times - before exiting with the game tied. Boston's top six hitters went 0-for-15 with nine strikeouts against the right-hander.
9. Framber Valdez, Astros
| IP | H | R | K | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Valdez silenced Juan Soto and the New York Mets during Houston's 3-1 win. The southpaw tossed seven shutout innings against one of the more imposing lineups in the majors. Valdez was one of only two pitchers to throw at least seven innings on Opening Day.
8. Jorge Polanco, Mariners
| AB | H | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Polanco's second time around in Seattle is already going better than the first. The third baseman blasted the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning off A's reliever José Leclerc in an eventual 4-2 win. Polanco only had one homer and three RBIs in his first 15 games with the Mariners last season. Also, shoutout to Logan Gilbert, who allowed just two hits (one home run) in seven innings of work.
7. Miguel Amaya, Cubs
| AB | H | 2B | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Amaya made the most of his RBI opportunities against the Diamondbacks, cashing in five runs with a pair of doubles to match his career high. The Cubs catcher is now the early-season MLB leader in RBIs with six after picking up one during Chicago's two-game series in Japan against the Dodgers.
6. Tyler O'Neill, Orioles
| PA | R | H | HR | RBI | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
O'Neill is a first-ballot Opening Day Hall of Famer. The Orioles outfielder has now homered on six consecutive Opening Days after going deep in Toronto. It's one of the most hilarious and unbelievable active records in MLB. It wasn't just the homer, though, as O'Neill reached base in all five plate appearances.
5. Adley Rutschman, Orioles
| AB | R | H | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Rutschman's bounce-back season is off to a terrific start after feasting on Blue Jays starter José Berríos once again. The All-Star catcher is an absurd 17-for-28 with five homers against the right-hander in his career. It's also the third time Rutschman has posted a two-homer game, with all of them coming against Toronto.
4. Kyle Manzardo, Guardians
| AB | R | H | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Manzardo finished a single short of hitting for the cycle after collecting a two-run homer, two-run double, and a triple in a win over the Royals. The 24-year-old admitted postgame that he's only done that once before - in college.
3. Cedric Mullins, Orioles
| AB | R | H | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Mullins' two-homer performance was his first game with multiple home runs since June 2021 - also against the Blue Jays. Mullins, who hit seventh Thursday, also drove in a career-high five runs.
2. Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox
| AB | R | H | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Abreu clearly likes to do things in pairs. After welcoming twins 10 days ago, the Red Sox outfielder went deep twice in a 5-2 win over the Rangers. Abreu hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning before belting the game-winning, three-run homer in the ninth.
1. MacKenzie Gore, Nationals
| IP | H | R | K | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Gore can now be mentioned in the same sentence as legendary pitcher Bob Gibson. The former matched the Hall of Famer to become just the second pitcher in AL/NL history with 13 strikeouts and no walks during a scoreless Opening Day start. Gore also set a franchise record for strikeouts in the opener. Somehow, the Nationals still managed to lose to the Phillies.