The 2024 major league season kicked off yesterday with 14 games, two other games going rained out, and will be made up today. The offseason was slow moving but there were moves with a lot of names in new places. So who were the five players that had a great debut in their first game with their new team?
Opening Day Scores:
Baltimore Orioles over Los Angeles Angels 11-3
San Diego Padres over San Francisco Giants 6-4
Detroit Tigers over Chicago White Sox 1-0
Los Angeles Dodgers over St. Louis Cardinals 7-1
Pittsburgh Pirates over Miami Marlins 6-5 (12)
Toronto Blue Jays over Tampa Bay Rays 8-2
Cincinnati Reds over Washington Nationals 8-2
Minnesota Twins over Kansas City Royals 4-1
New York Yankees over Houston Astros 5-4
Texas Rangers over Chicago Cubs 4-3 (10)
Cleveland Guardians over Oakland A’s 8-0
Boston Red Sox over Seattle Mariners 6-4
Arizona Diamondbacks over Colorado Rockies 16-1
Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies PPD
Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets PPD
Five Best Debuts
RHP – Corbin Burnes – Baltimore Orioles
Burnes was acquired by the Orioles from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and future considerations. Burnes got the ball against the Angels going six innings, he gave up one run on one hit; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out 11 as he picked up the win.
RHP – Frankie Montas – Cincinnati Reds
Montas signed a one-year deal worth $16 million with the Reds on January 2nd. He got the start on Opening Day against the Nationals going six innings, he didn’t allow a run on four hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out four.
LHP – Josh Hader – Houston Astros
Hader signed a five-year deal worth $95 million with the Astros this offseason. He pitched the top of the ninth with the Astros down by one to the Yankees and Hader struck out all three batters he faced getting Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo swinging before getting Anthony Volpe to punch out looking.
3B – Eugenio Suarez – Arizona Diamondbacks
Suarez was acquired by the Diamondbacks in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Carlos Vargas and Seby Zavala. Suarez in his debut against the Rockies went 2-4 with two RBI, and a run scored.
OF – Tyler O’Neill – Boston Red Sox
O’Neill was acquired by the Red Sox in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Red Sox sent Nick Robertson and Victor Santos to St. Louis. O’Neill last night went 1-3 with a home run, an RBI, two runs scored, a stolen base, and a walk. The home run was a record breaker as he had now homered in five straight Opening Days.
