Batter up: MLB is back in full swing

MLB’s 2026 Opening Day did not leave fans or players lacking enthusiasm

Photo courtesy of SewageBoy/Wikimedia Commons

Tarik Skubal opened the 2026 MLB season in dominant form, tossing six strong innings with six strikeouts as he begins his pursuit of a third consecutive AL Cy Young Award.

On Mar. 26, Major League Baseball (MLB) fans, players, coaches, and managers welcomed Opening Day of the 2026 baseball season! The baseball community, professionals and fans alike, have been waiting all winter for Opening Day, which came with many reasons to be excited for the season ahead. 

MLB.com details that “20 players on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list began the year in the big leagues, the most since MLB Pipeline released its first Top 100 list in 2012.” If that was not exciting enough, the young players made the day even better, meeting or exceeding their expectations. MLB reports, “Mets outfielder, Carson Benge (MLB No.16) reached base three times in his MLB debut” and recorded “a solo home run for his first career hit,” leaving Mets fans with an extra reason to celebrate after their team’s 11-7 Opening Day win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Another shocking—yet maybe less celebratory, at least for Pirates’ fans—headline came from the Mets vs. Pirates Opening Day game. Paul Skenes, the 2025 National League (NL) Cy Young Award winner, as per Baseball Reference, exited the first game of the 2026 season “after just two-thirds innings in which he gave up five earned runs – matching his career high – off four hits, along with a walk and two strikeouts… [and] just 37 pitches” as the New York Post detailed. Skenes seemed relatively unshaken in his post-game interview, calling his performance simply “an abnormal outing” and predicting better results for himself as the young season progresses. 

Still, even more baseball enthusiasm could be seen inside of T-Mobile Park in Seattle, where, as ESPN details, the Cleveland Guardians’ prospect Chase DeLauter smashed two home runs in his first regular-season game. The Guardians went on to win 6-4 over the Seattle Mariners, as further per ESPN. MLB Pipeline reported the rookie’s– who is major league’s baseball No. 46 prospect– hard-hitting start to the season, with videos of his home runs posted on their Instagram account, which received much praise from fans. 

The Detroit Tigers’ rookie infielder, Kevin McGonigle, also gave fans his all on Opening Day. “At 21 years old, McGonigle became the first Tiger to record four hits in an Opening Day debut,” reported The Herald News. The Detroit Tigers announced McGonigle, major league baseball’s No. 2 prospect, would make their Opening Day roster just two days before the first game, as per Yahoo Sports. 

While Skenes may have delivered a less-than-desirable first start, major league baseball fans had several other pitchers to look towards in hopes of a pitch-perfect season this year.  MLB detailed that Detroit Tigers’ pitcher, Tarik Skubal, began the season looking ready for another award-worthy season, in hopes of 2026 marking his “third consecutive AL CY Young Award.” MLB further recorded that Skubal’s first outing of the season on Opening Day included “six solid innings against the Padres, notching six strikeouts.”

Hunter Brown gave Houston Astros fans something to cheer for despite the Astros’ losing their Opening Day game by a score of 3-0 to the Los Angeles Angels, The Houston Chronicle reported. Brown delivered over 4 innings of shutout baseball for the Astros and struck out nine batters, reminding fans why he was a serious contender for the 2025 American League (AL) Cy Young Award, as also mentioned by The Houston Chronicle. 

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Christopher Sànchez joined these great athletes in putting on a show on the mound during Opening Day games. NBC Sports Philadelphia documented his dazzling performance, including “10 strikeouts over six scoreless innings, no walks, and a dominant start in the Phillies’ 5-3 win over the Rangers.” NBC continued to detail, “Sánchez threw more changeups than anyone in baseball in 2025, nearly 100 more than the next-highest pitcher,” and his Opening Day performance certainly reminded fans what a quality player he is. 

Also exciting for baseball fans, veteran player Mike Trout, who struggled last year, and who some fans began to worry about his need to retire, showed up on Opening Day. Reporting on his Opening Day performance, CBS Sports detailed, Trout “entered his age-34 season on Thursday and hit a home run, drew three walks and stole a base.”

MLBonFox on Instagram hyped up the few teams and their fans, which remained undefeated after the first weekend of baseball in 2026. The undefeated teams that remained were the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Toronto Blue Jays. However, the season is still young, and it is still anyone’s game!