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There were 12 more teams that had their home openers, leaving the Tampa Bay Rays as the lone team yet to play in front of their home fans. That will come Monday when the Rays return to Tropicana Field after spending all of 2025 playing in a minor-league stadium following the hurricane damage to Tropicana Field that happened in the 2024 postseason. Knock on wood, but the weather has been fairly kind to teams thus far, although the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals were rained out Friday and will play the season’s first doubleheader today.
Today’s Headlines
Griffin A Hit In MLB Debut For Pirates
Konnor Griffin swung and missed at two of the first three sliders he saw in his first MLB at-bat. The other was a ball. Then the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ shortstop got a piece of the fourth slider and fouled it off. On the fifth pitch, Baltimore Orioles right-handed starter Kyle Bradish changed up and threw a curve that the right-handed hitter pulled into the gap in left-center field for an RBI double with one out in the second inning. First MLB hit and RBI in his first at-bat. Not bad for the 19-year-old No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. Griffin then flashed his speed in scoring on Jared Triolo’s single to right. It was a nice start for Griffin, whose debut helped the Pirates win their home opener over the Orioles 5-4. Three weeks shy of his 20th birthday, Griffin was the youngest player to make his MLB debut at shortstop since 18-year-old Alex Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners in 1994 and the first teenage position player to debut since Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals in 2018. Griffin hit seventh, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. But it was his first hit that ignited a four-run second inning and sent the Pirates to their first win with him on the roster.
At 19 years and 344 days, Konnor Griffin is the youngest Pirates player with a hit in his MLB debut since Bill Mazeroski at 19y 306d on 7/7/56
— Sarah Langs (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2026-04-03T21:24:14.460Z
DeLauter Returns, Stays Sizzling; Cubs’ Horton Hurt
Chase DeLauter is back. Not only was the rookie center fielder back in the Cleveland Guardians‘ starting lineup following an injury scare, but back in front of the home fans, who saw him play during last year’s postseason. And with one swing of the bat, he showed he hasn’t missed a step. DeLauter had a game-tying single in the fifth inning and capped a three-run seventh inning with a two-run homer as the Guardians toppled the Chicago Cubs 4-1. Gabriel Arias preceded DeLauter’s blast in the seventh with a solo shot of his own that snapped a 1-1 tie. It was the fifth homer in seven games for DeLauter, who missed the Guardians’ last game after fouling a ball off his right foot Tuesday. Guardians left-handed starter Joey Cantillo allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six in 5.1 innings, then the bullpen allowed just one hit over the final 3.2 innings, with closer Cade Smith getting three strikeouts for his second save of the season. Cubs right-handed starter Cade Horton, the runner-up for last year’s NL Rookie of the Year award, left his start after just 17 pitches with an initial designation of right forearm soreness. Horton, who will be placed on the 15-day injured list today, was scheduled to return to Chicago and have further examinations to determine the extent of the injury.
Woo, Mariners 1-Hit Angels In 10 Innings
In the immortal words of Harry Doyle, the Los Angeles Angels are asking themselves a question after facing Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo: “One hit? That’s all we got?” It’s true. The Angels managed one lousy hit in seven innings against Woo, who was marvelous as the Mariners needed 10 innings to beat the Angels 3-1. Cole Young broke open the scoreless game in the top of the 10th by tripling in automatic runner Luke Raley to lead off the inning, then scoring when, after a two-out intentional walk to Julio Rodríguez and a wild pitch, Josh Naylor singled home two runs for a 3-0 lead. The Angels plated their automatic runner after a groundout and a sacrifice fly. The only Angels hit came in the bottom of the third when Oswald Peraza hit a fly to shallow right field that fell in between Young and right fielder Victor Robles. Woo, who struck out six, then picked Peraza off first base. The only other blemishes were vs. Mike Trout, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning and walked in the fourth. Three Mariners relievers combined for six strikeouts.
Stephenson’s Late HR Lifts Reds
If the Cincinnati Reds are going to be a factor in the NL Central, they are going to need more finishes like what they turned in during their first road game of 2026. Tyler Stephenson smashed a go-ahead two-run homer with no outs in the top of the ninth inning as the Reds upended the Texas Rangers 5-3. Spencer Steer, who also homered, had doubled to lead off the ninth when Stephenson battled to a full count and drove a 93.2 mph sinker from right-hander Chris Martin out to right-center field to snap a 3-3 tie. It was Stephenson’s first homer this year. Stephenson, Steer, Matt McLain, and Eugenio Suárez each had two hits for an offense that had heavily leaned on rookie Sal Stewart thus far.
Journeyman Gray Feeling Grand
Some players have a magical moment right away in their career (see above with Griffin, Konnor). For others, it never comes. Tristan Gray was almost in that latter category. After considering retirement instead of a possible ninth season in the minors, Gray’s moment game in the Minnesota Twins‘ home opener. Gray hit a grand slam as part of a seven-run seventh inning that carried the Twins to a 10-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. The 30-year-old Gray, a utility infielder with 111 career MLB at-bats before making the Opening Day roster for the rebuilding Twins, turned a 6-3 game into a 10-3 laugher with his fifth career homer, a line drive down the right-field line. It was his first five-RBI game, boosting his career total to 18.
By The Numbers
6-2 After starting last season 0-7 thanks to a season-opening West Coast road trip, Atlanta is 6-2 after the first six games at home, then starting a West Coast trip 2-0 following a 2-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson hit ninth-inning homers.
6 The Miami Marlins have spent six days in first place this year, entering Friday, doubling the number they had in the previous five seasons.
5 The Washington Nationals have lost five straight home openers following their 13-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
11 The A’s scored all of their runs in an 11-4 win over the Houston Astros with two outs.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Sweet Cleats
Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin had some special cleats ready for his MLB debut.
Konnor Griffin’s MLB debut cleats(via @LuciaFootwearCo)
— Talkin’ Baseball (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2026-04-03T19:49:15.000Z
Don’t Take Away Cheap Beer
The power went out in the area around Target Field in Minneapolis about 80 minutes before the scheduled first pitch for the Minnesota Twins‘ home opener. While some of the pregame festivities were delayed or scrapped, there was a bonus for the fans. The new Friday and Saturday feature of $2 12-ounce cans of beer and happy-hour snacks was extended from ending at first pitch to the second inning.
This got a cheer that might end up being the loudest of the season at Target Field.
— Aaron Gleeman (@aarongleeman.bsky.social) 2026-04-03T20:26:21.267Z
Belli’s Bumble
It won’t rate as the catch of the month, much less catch of the year, but this was a pretty unique snag by New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger.
Blazin’ Hot Corner
Conversely, this was a true defensive gem turned in by Orioles third baseman Blaze Alexander, who needed a little help from instant replay to get the out.
Too Shifty
You don’t see this very often, but there was a shift violation in the Twins-Rays game.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jordan Lawlar will be out six to nine weeks with a broken right wrist. Lawlar was hit by a pitch in Thursday’s game against Atlanta. Catcher Adrian Del Castillo was called up from Triple-A.
⚾ Red Sox right-handed starter Johan Oviedo was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow. Right-handed starter Tyler Uberstine, the Red Sox’s No. 15 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was called up to make his MLB debut.
⚾ New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto left the game vs. the San Francisco Giants after the top of the first inning with tightness in his right calf.
⚾ Twins center fielder Byron Buxton was removed from the game against the Rays after being hit on the right forearm by a pitch. Buxton has a bruise and should be fine moving forward.
⚾ The Toronto Blue Jays, suddenly pressed for pitching depth, signed left-handed starter Patrick Corbin to a one-year, $1 million contract. Corbin will report to Low A to get work in before joining the MLB roster.
⚾ The Brewers made the signing of prospect shortstop Cooper Pratt official, announcing the eight-year deal for a reported $50.75 million with two club options that would take the deal to 2035. With the deal a major-league contract, Pratt, who has played just three games in his career at Triple-A (all this year), had to be added to the 40-man roster. Minor-league outfielder Steward Berroa was DFA’d.
⚾ Right-hander Victor Mederos was traded by the Los Angeles Angels to Atlanta in exchange for international bonus-pool money. Mederos, who had been DFA’d, was added to Atlanta’s 40-man roster, and right-handed starter AJ Smith-Shawver was transferred to the 60-day IL.
Articles You Should Read
In just a week, ABS has already changed baseball in surprising ways — Chad Jennings, The Athletic
Why the Mariners made an unprecedented investment in Emerson — Mike Vorel, Seattle Times
Two-time World Series champ Bogaerts makes return to Boston — Alex Speier, Boston Globe
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
