Top 10 performances from 2025 MLB Opening Day

Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

2025 Major League Baseball Opening Day did not disappoint. From records being set by pitchers and hitters to late comeback wins, the league put on a show.

All but two fanbases -- Rays and Rockies - saw their teams play on Thursday. The Cubs and Dodgers played a two-game regular-season series in the middle of March as part of the MLB World Tour: Tokyo Series. For 26 other teams, their seasons started on what many fans view as baseball’s Christmas Day.

Let’s see who put on a show during Opening Day (In no particular order):

MacKenzie Gore - Starting Pitcher, Washington Nationals

MacKenzie Gore impressed the home crowd and all of MLB with a historic performance. The 26-year-old lefty threw a career-high 13 strikeouts and allowed one hit through six innings (93 total pitches). Shadows or not, Gore sat down a potent Philadelphia Phillies lineup with relative ease, only giving up a leadoff single to Kyle Schwarber in the top of the second inning. The former third-overall pick did not walk anyone, getting ahead of almost every hitter he faced. Gore joined Bob Gibson (1967) as the only other pitcher in American and National League history with 13 strikeouts and no walks in a scoreless outing on Opening Day, per MLB. The Phillies found their mojo on offense after Gore exited the game, winning 7-3 in extras.

Tyler O’Neill - Right Fielder, Baltimore Orioles

Nobody loves Opening Day more than Tyler O’Neill. One of the league’s most successful Opening Day hitters broke his record with another home run in a 12-2 thumping of the Toronto Blue Jays. O’Neill’s three-run homer in the top of the third inning was his sixth consecutive home run on Opening Day. He set the record last year, hitting his fifth consecutive Opening Day home run for the Boston Red Sox. The 29-year-old went 3-for-3 with his home run, two singles, and two walks. The right fielder collected three RBI and scored three runs while making his Orioles debut on home soil in Canada.

Cedric Mullins - Center Fielder, Baltimore Orioles

Another Oriole to impress on Opening Day was center fielder Cedric Mullins. The 30-year-old had a three-hit, multi-homer game in his team’s rout of the Blue Jays. Mullins started his day with an RBI single in the top of the second followed by a solo home run in the fourth to extend the Orioles’ lead to six. Mullins capped off his Opening Day with a three-run homer in the seventh inning. Mullins finished the night 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored.

Adley Rutschman - Catcher, Baltimore Orioles

The third Oriole on this list, Adley Rutschman started the game with a bang. Rutschman’s first inning, 436-foot home run was the longest of the day across all 14 games. The 27-year-old added a 415-foot home run in the top of the eighth inning. The catcher finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. This was just the tenth time since 1901 that a team has had two multi-homer performances on Opening Day, per MLB. Rutschman and Mullins joined Sam Horn (1990) and Brooks Robinson (1973) as the only Orioles/Browns players with two-homer games on Opening Day, per MLB.

Wilyer Abreu - Right Fielder, Boston Red Sox

Maybe the most clutch Opening Day performance of the season, Wilyer Abreu single-handily led the Red Sox to a 5-2 comeback win against the Texas Rangers. Abreu’s solo home run in the top of the fifth inning tied the game at two and his three-run homer in the ninth un-tied the game, giving the Red Sox their first lead of the afternoon. The 25-year-old finished the game 3-for-3 with his two homers, single, and walk. The right fielder knocked in four of the five runs scored by the visitors. Abreu was the first Boston hitter with a multi-homer game on Opening Day since Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez in 2015, per MLB.

Logan Gilbert - Starting Pitcher, Seattle Mariners

Logan Gilbert continued to show why he is one of the best pitchers in the American League. After being named an All-Star and finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting last season, expectations around the league are high for the 27-year-old. Gilbert picked up where he left off last year, striking out eight across seven strong innings (83 TP), allowing just two hits, one earned run, and no walks. Gilbert showed why he is the ace of a very talented and young rotation in Seattle. After exiting with the game tied, the Mariners’ bats picked up their starting pitcher, hitting two clutch home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, leading to a 4-2 Seattle win.

Kyle Manzardo - Designated Hitter, Cleveland Guardians

Kyle Manzardo’s three-hit performance on Opening Day led to an extra-innings win for the Cleveland Guardians over the Kansas City Royals. Manzardo finished the game a single shy of the cycle with a triple in the top of the fourth inning, a two-run blast in the sixth inning, and a two-run double in the tenth inning. After taking a one-run lead in the tenth inning, Manzardo added two more insurance runs with his two-RBI double, helping the Guardians beat their division rivals, 7-4. The 25-year-old collected four RBI and scored two runs in the road win. Manzardo joined Don Baylor (1973) and Gee Walker (1937) as the only players since 1901 with a home run, triple, and double on Opening Day, per MLB.

Spencer Torkelson - Designated Hitter, Detroit Tigers

One of two players on this list who shined in a losing effort, Spencer Torkelson made his presence known in the batter’s box. While Torkelson only went one-for-one against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, he walked four times and his one hit was a 423-foot home run to left field. This was the 14th time in Opening Day history that a player walked four times in the same game, per MLB. The former first-overall pick has struggled in his three major league seasons but this performance could be a sign of things to come for Torkelson and Tigers fans.

Miguel Amaya - Catcher, Chicago Cubs

An unexpected hero, Miguel Amaya, the last batter in the Cubs lineup, proved to be the team’s most important hitter on Thursday. Amaya went two-for-five with a three-run double in the top of the fifth inning and a two-run double in the ninth inning to pad Chicago’s lead. The 24-year-old tied a career high with five RBI. Amaya joined J.P. Arencibia (2011) and Van Mungo (1935) as the only nine-hole hitters since 1901 to record five RBI on Opening Day.

Jorge Polanco - Third Base, Seattle Mariners

Jorge Polanco’s Opening Day heroics led the Seattle Mariners to a comeback win in the eighth inning. Polanco went 3-for-3 with two singles, a sacrifice, and a huge home run. Polanco’s go-ahead, two-run homer gave the Mariners a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. The 31-year-old’s homer came one batter after Randy Arozarena tied the game with a solo shot to left field.