Jackson Chourio’s Opening Day
As he approached the plate at Yankee Stadium, Jackson Chourio, a 21-year-old left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, adjusted his batting gloves. He exchanged greetings with Yankees catcher Austin Wells, knelt to touch the dirt, and stepped into the batter’s box, ready with his bat.
At precisely 3:13 pm ET on Thursday, Chourio swung at the first pitch of Opening Day—a 96-mph fastball from Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón, which marked the day’s first strike. Following a few pitches, Rodón recorded the first strikeout, and shortly after, Wells hit the first home run of the season.
The atmosphere was electric as baseball returned. Highlights from the day included a late-inning rally in San Diego, a rain delay in St. Louis, and a home run-filled game in Toronto. A high-profile free agent made a hit in his first New York at-bat, while a shortstop took the mound in Chicago. Ceremonial first pitches in Los Angeles were made by World Series heroes Kirk Gibson and Freddie Freeman, creating a bridge between baseball legends. Ice Cube also made a memorable entrance by bringing the World Series trophy to Dodger Stadium, where Shohei Ohtani hit a homer in his fourth at-bat, contributing to the Dodgers’ close win.
After five months since the World Series, the baseball world rejoiced as meaningful games were played across the nation.
Notable Performances and Moments
Although Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes performed well, he wasn’t the top young pitcher of the day. Newly signed Juan Soto had a hit in his first at-bat with the New York Mets but struck out later on, contributing to a two-run loss for the Mets. Meanwhile, the struggling Chicago White Sox celebrated a blowout win, tying them for first place momentarily and making Miguel Vargas a .500 hitter.
Importantly, while Opening Day technically wasn’t the absolute start of the baseball season (the Tokyo Series had commenced it a week earlier), it still held a unique significance. The Tokyo Series saw impressive performances, like Ohtani’s homer, but Opening Day offered the fandom a shared, hopeful celebration—a clean slate for teams like the White Sox and a revival for the Dodgers, alongside a new chapter for the Phillies and the Red Sox.
Tradition and Optimism
As baseball is a game rooted in tradition and history, fans witnessed heartwarming ceremonies, including tributes to Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker and stolen base king Rickey Henderson. Ceremonial first pitches were thrown by former stars like Trevor Hoffman and Ichiro Suzuki, the latter impressively delivering a fast pitch. With special performances, such as Josh Groban singing the National Anthem, the excitement of Opening Day was alive.
The day also featured outstanding starting pitchers. Skenes, after his phenomenal Rookie of the Year season, had a strong opening, while other pitchers like Phillies’ Zack Wheeler, Reds’ Hunter Greene, and Nationals’ MacKenzie Gore put on impressive displays. The game was defined by close contests as teams rallied late, including the Guardians and Red Sox executing thrilling comebacks.
Opening Day concluded with a flurry of excitement, encapsulating the promise of new beginnings. With moments of tension and the thrill of victory and defeat, baseball fans felt the joy of the game returning, filled with hopes for the season ahead.
As twilight descended on the East Coast, the final games got underway on the West Coast, marking the true essence of Opening Day—filled with nostalgia and endless possibilities.
