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I think we can all agree that MLB Opening Day should be a national holiday. Since half the clubs don't play until the following day, that means two days off and a four-day weekend of watching baseball while enjoying your favorite frosty beverage and grilled meat. Who says no?
Now that every team has at least one game under its belt and the overreactions have started, let's see what we can take away from the players who had the chance to make their very first impressions on a new fanbase.
I'll recap performances from the most notable rookies who saw their very first taste of the bigs, as well as free agents and traded players who are donning a new uniform in 2022, with some thoughts and fantasy baseball spin for each.
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Rookie Debuts
Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs
Suzuki was the first of the "pure" rookies (no MLB at-bats) to collect a hit in 2022 but that's because the Cubs played the first game of the season. He reached base three times in four AB, showing a patient approach by seeing nearly as many balls as strikes. He could move up in the order if this keeps up.
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
If it isn't too early to anoint a favorite for AL Rookie of the Year, I'll roll with Witt. OK, it wasn't an amazing game but Witt's first Major League hit was a go-ahead RBI double. He then crossed the plate to extend the lead to 3-1. This kid is ready to be an impact player right now.
Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros
He went 0-for-3 but it'll take more than that to move me off the hype train. Pena showed well in the field, which is why he's set to be an everyday staple in a potent lineup. He is only 25% rostered in Yahoo right now...
Seth Beer & Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona Diamondbacks
April 7 wasn't just MLB Opening Day, it was National Beer Day! How did Seth Beer celebrate? By hitting a walk-off home run of course.
SETH BEER WITH A WALK OFF HOME RUN ON NATIONAL BEER DAY! 🍻🍻 pic.twitter.com/pLplZ7eIRH
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 8, 2022
The power is real and he looks primed to be a hot waiver wire add ahead of Week 2.
Perdomo begins the season as the D-Backs shortstop because of a Nick Ahmed injury but he may not give the job up. He looked slick as a fielder, turning a pair of double plays with ease. The bat still has to catch up with the glove though, so his fantasy value will be limited.
Robert Suarez, San Diego Padres
Oh boy. The game-winning home run swatted by Beer came off of Craig Stammen but the ninth-inning rally all falls at the feet of Suarez. Entering with a 2-0 lead against the punchless Diamondbacks, who were no-hit for six innings by Yu Darvish until he was pulled, Suarez simply fell apart. He allowed all three batters he faced to reach base, including a HBP to Carson Kelly after a sequence that included a wild pitch as well.
Heat map don't lie.
It's as early as it can get and we could chalk it up to Opening Day jitters but this was the worst possible way to show your manager that you can be the fireman for a team that just traded for Taylor Rogers.
Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
Kwan made a quiet splash by recording a single and two walks across four plate appearances. He was slotted at seventh in what is an unimpressive bottom half of a lineup for the Guardians. Kwan should provide adequate value in points leagues but may leave roto league managers wanting for more.
Diego Castillo, Pittsburgh Pirates
The spring sensation wasn't in the starting lineup but an early hand injury to Ke'Bryan Hayes, hours after signing a seven-year extension, forced him into the game. He couldn't keep the momentum going as he went hitless in three at-bats. Hayes' injury was reported to be minor so don't get your hopes up. Then again, it's the Pirates so you should know better anyway.
Familiar Faces in New Places
Starling Marte & Eduardo Escobar, New York Mets
Marte notched one base hit but he stranded five runners and was caught stealing. As the table-setter for a revamped Mets offense that scored five times on opening night, he should have plenty of more productive games ahead.
It was a mostly uneventful night for Escobar, who went 1-for-4 with a double. He hit fifth and held down third base which should be the case all season long.
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
It had to be a thrill for the Georgia native to take the field in his new home stadium after inking a massive long-term contract with the Braves. It didn't show up in the box score, as he went hitless in his first game with the club. He did walk twice and score a run.
Nelson Cruz, Washington Nationals
Only in 2022 could Nelson Cruz play in the National League. The newest Nat had an inauspicious debut, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Doesn't matter - he'll still end up mashing 40 homers.
Luke Voit, San Diego Padres
One of the best plays I saw all night was Voit taking a pitch just outside the zone for ball four. Madison Bumgarner was struggling to find the plate, having walked the bases loaded with two outs for Voit. After starting out 0-2, Voit remained patient and was able to lay off a pitch that was hittable but not close enough to be ruled a strike. It gave him an RBI and showed that he won't be an all-or-nothing slugger after seeing his K-rate balloon to 30.7% and struggling to a .239 average last year. FWIW he walked again on a full count in the fifth inning.
Tommy Pham, Cincinnati Reds
No hits in four at-bats but it was a great sign to see Pham hitting third in front of Joey Votto. Buy back into Pham now while you can.
Andrew McCutchen, Milwaukee Brewers
Cutch looked comfortable in Brewer blue, picking up two hits against Kyle Hendricks. He was the cleanup man for game one and could spend most of the season hitting behind Christian Yelich. Don't be surprised if he enjoys a mini-revival now that he can serve as the designated hitter full-time.
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