MLB Opening Day 2025: Top moments and highlights

MLB's Opening Day kicked off the 2025 season with a bang across the league, some in more parks than others.

There's good news, great performances, and no shortage of dingers.

Here's the best of day one of the 2025 MLB season.

Kirk Gibson, meet Freddie Freeman

Former 1988 World Series hero and champion Kirk Gibson threw out the first pitch to Freddie Freeman, the World Series MVP recipient from the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers championship team. That's plenty on its own, given it's a joining of different generations of Dodgers' champs together for fans to see, but recall that Freeman played through a rib injury in the 2024 postseason. It might not have looked like it, given his performance, but, like Gibson and the pinch-hit homer he mashed despite a pair of leg injuries, he gutted it out and helped the Dodgers to another ring.

Kyle Stowers hits MLB's first walk-off of ‘25

Sure, Pittsburgh Pirates fans won't agree about this being a moment worth remembering from Opening Day, but Kyle Stowers and the Miami Marlins will. Tied 4-4 in the ninth with two on, Stower pulled a ball to right field, just fair, to bring the Fish their first W of the year.

Don't worry, Bucs' fans. At least Paul Skenes was on his game. He struck out seven batters, and simply by taking the mound made history, per MLB. Skenes made his first Opening Day start faster than any other No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft had before. 

Austin Wells makes history, not twice, but thrice

Before he even stepped on the field today, New York Yankees' catcher Austin Wells made team history as the first-ever backstop to bat leadoff for the club. What he did in that position was of much greater note, however: Wells hit a leadoff home run, which was not only the first-ever leadoff Opening Day homer by a Yankee, but also the first by a catcher for any team.

Orioles go deep, again and again and ag—

If you're wondering how the Baltimore Orioles scored 12 runs against the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day, the answer is homers. Six of them, in fact. Of those half-dozen dingers, two came off of the bat of Cedric Mullins, another pair by Adley Rutchsman — the second of which was followed by a back-to-back jack courtesy Jordan Westburg — and the remaining long ball was Tyler O'Neill's. That blast marked O'Neill's sixth consecutive Opening Day homer, which extended a record he had already secured for himself last Opening Day.

MacKenzie Gore channels a Hall of Famer

Lefty MacKenzie Gore struck out 13 batters for the Washington Nationals, which on its own stands as a franchise record for the team on Opening Day. That feat also tied him with Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in another area, though: they're now the only two pitchers to ever rack up 13 strikeouts and no walks in a scoreless Opening Day outing. 

Cam Smith's first day on the job

Cam Smith, drafted 14th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, was added to the Astros' big-league roster for Opening Day despite all of 32 games of experience in the minors. Smith made his case out of the gate, though, by finding a hole on a first-pitch single — the first pitch of the season for him and his big-league career. It would end up as Smith's lone hit of the day, but taking care of that first one is a relief on its own.

Mookie Betts is back

Not an extraordinary performance on its own, but, after missing considerable time with a mystery ailment that caused him to lose 15 pounds over mere weeks, Mookie Betts returned to the Dodgers’ lineup in time for Opening Day. He picked up a hit and a walk in his four trips to the plate, while playing at shortstop as planned.

Ichiro does the honors

The one they call "Ichiro" threw out the first pitch for the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night — and looked ready to play, if called upon. Of course, Suzuki spent the bulk of his Hall of Fame career with the Mariners and stands as the franchise's all-time leader in hits (2,542), batting average (.321) and stolen bases (438), among other offensive categories. As for the game, Seattle rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead and ultimately beat the Athletics, 4-2.

The Chicago White Sox won

Enjoy it while you can, White Sox fans.

More from MLB Opening Day:

• 2025 Top 50 MLB Players: Is Shohei Ohtani still No. 1?
• Young Yankees making noise will help, but New York's offense still depends on Aaron Judge
• Ranking the top 25 MLB players aged 25 and under in ‘25
• The first leadoff homer of the MLB season belongs to ... Yankees catcher Austin Wells?
• Tiramisu helmets and 10 other absurd food items you can order at MLB ballparks in 2025

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