By Avry Jones
(Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Orioles’ Power Surge
The Baltimore Orioles dominated the Toronto Blue Jays with a stunning 12-2 victory, showcasing their offensive power during the season’s first game. The Orioles smashed six home runs in their Opening Day game, with Tyler O’Neill setting a record by homering on Opening Day for the sixth consecutive year.
Nestor Cortes’ Rough Start
Nestor Cortes had a challenging debut for the Milwaukee Brewers against his former team. The former Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes gave up three home runs on his first three pitches of the season. In the first inning, he allowed back-to-back-to-back home runs to Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge, followed by a fourth homer to Austin Wells later in the inning.
Despite the rough start, Cortes managed to settle down and finish the inning, but the Yankees ultimately set a franchise record with nine home runs in their 20-9 victory, a shocking start for Cortes.
Rafael Devers’ Struggles
Rafael Devers, the Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter, had a historically challenging start to the 2025 MLB season. Over the first four games against the Texas Rangers, he went hitless in 16 at-bats and struck out 12 times, setting a record for the most strikeouts in the first four games of a season. Despite the rough beginning, Devers remains a talented player with a strong track record, suggesting potential for improvement as the season progresses.
Braves Swept by Padres
The San Diego Padres swept the Atlanta Braves in a four-game series to open the 2025 MLB season, marking the Padres’ first 4-0 start since 1984. The Braves struggled offensively, being shut out in back-to-back games and managing only one hit in the series finale. Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta delivered a dominant debut, throwing seven scoreless innings in the final game, while the Braves’ lineup failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Marlins Family Affair
The Conine family had a very special Sunday as Jeff Conine became the first Marlins’ Hall of Fame member, when he was inducted before the team’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 58-year-old Conine, nicknamed “Mr. Marlin,” helped the franchise win the World Series in 1997 and 2003.
Conine’s son, Griffin, then hit a tying solo homer with two outs in the seventh inning. Then, Derek Hill scored the winning run on David Bednar’s wild pitch in the ninth to win 3-2 as the Marlins took three of four in the season-opening series.
Opening Weekend Thoughts
Opening Weekend in Major League Baseball 2025 showcased thrilling performances and wildly unexpected highlights from smaller market teams like the Cincinnati Reds, who took two out of three against the heavily favored St. Louis Cardinals. This season has only just started, but look for Major League Baseball to continue to be exciting and surprising as the season goes on.
Avry Jones is a contributor to The MMM Journal.
She can be reached at: avryjones@comcast.net
X: @LadyAvry
Instagram: @LadyAvry
