The best debuts from Opening Day

By MLB.com | 7:14 PM EDT

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One of the best parts of Opening Day is the debuts, whether it’s a familiar name in a new place or a fresh face getting his first crack at the big leagues.

Every Opening Day has its share of debuts worth remembering, and 2026 has been no exception. Here’s a look at the players who made strong first impressions in new uniforms on Thursday.

Kevin McGonigle (MLB debut)
4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBIs

McGonigle didn’t waste any time -- literally -- checking off a few major big league milestones in his MLB debut. MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall prospect came to the plate with the bases loaded in the first inning and promptly swung at the first pitch he saw, punching it down the right-field line for a double. McGonigle’s first career hit drove in a pair of runs -- his first two RBIs. And he was just getting started. With a four-hit day, McGonigle became the second Tigers player since at least 1900 to have four hits in their MLB debut, joining Billy Bean, who accomplished the feat in 1987.

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Brandon Lowe (Pirates debut)
2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBIs

After ranking last in the Majors in both homers and runs scored in 2025, the Pirates focused on improving their lineup during the offseason. Lowe, one of Pittsburgh’s key additions, made his presence felt immediately with a two-run homer off Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta in the top of the first inning at Citi Field -- the first dinger of the 2026 season across MLB. He added another homer off Peralta -- this one a solo shot -- his second time up, making Lowe the first Pirate to hit multiple home runs on Opening Day since Garrett Jones in 2010.

Carson Benge (MLB debut)
1-for-3, HR, RBI, SB

Benge’s MLB debut didn’t get off to the best of starts, as he struck out in each of his first two at-bats. But after drawing a walk in the fifth, MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 overall prospect stepped to the plate one inning later and swatted a solo homer to right field for his first Major League hit. Benge, who received a curtain call from the Citi Field crowd after his big blast, added a steal for good measure, becoming the 14th player with a homer and a stolen base in his MLB debut since the modern stolen-base rule was adopted in 1898.

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JJ Wetherholt (MLB debut)
1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBIs

Wetherholt, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 overall prospect, did something that no Cardinals player had done in nearly 70 years. In his second big league at-bat, Wetherholt drove an 0-2 fastball over the center-field wall, launching his first home run a Statcast-projected 425 feet. He’s the first Cardinals player to hit a home run in their big league debut on Opening Day since Bobby Smith in 1957.

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Justin Crawford (MLB debut)
2-for-4, 1 R

With about 40 family members and friends in the stands -- including his dad, four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford -- Crawford looked right at home. MLB Pipeline’s No. 53 overall prospect took a first-pitch fastball from Nathan Eovaldi and shot it back into center field, recording his first big league hit in his first at-bat. Crawford’s second hit, a single leading off the fifth inning, sparked a three-run frame that chased Eovaldi from the game.

Ryan O'Hearn (Pirates debut)
2-for-4, HR, 1 RBI

The Pirates might have dropped their Opening Day game in New York, but they got big contributions from multiple offseason additions. After Lowe had already homered twice, O’Hearn bopped an opposite-field solo home run off of Mets reliever Tobias Myers. O’Hearn then singled and scored in the ninth inning. It was a solid introduction of the lefty batter who hit a career-best 17 homers and became a first-time All-Star last season.

Joey Wiemer (Nationals debut)
3-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Claimed off waivers from the Giants in January, Wiemer got the start in right field for Washington and went deep in his first plate appearance as a Nat. Wiemer became just the 16th player to homer in his first plate appearance for the Nationals/Expos franchise, and the first to do so since Adam Lind on April 3, 2017. His solo shot against Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd gave the Nationals their first run of the year and gave Wiemer 17 home runs across four big league seasons. He ended up reaching base in all four plate appearances, fueling Washington’s 10-4 win.

Munetaka Murakami (MLB debut)
1-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI

After hitting a lot of home runs in his native Japan, Murakami is now bashing dingers for the White Sox. Signed to a two-year, $34 million deal in free agency, Murakami was one of the lone bright spots in Chicago’s 14-2 loss to the Brewers on Opening Day. The 26-year-old drew two walks and crushed a solo homer in the top of the ninth inning.

Ryan Helsley (Orioles debut)
SV, 1 IP, 0 R, 3 K

The O’s have one All-Star closer, Félix Bautista, on the shelf as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. Baltimore is hoping that another former All-Star can fill Bautista’s shoes. Helsley, who signed a two-year, $28 million deal in the winter, made a strong first impression in his O’s debut. Looking to put a rocky 2025 season behind him, Helsley nailed down his first save, scattering a single around three strikeouts -- two on his four-seamer, which topped out at 101.9 mph -- in Baltimore's 2-1 win.

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OTHER NOTABLE 2026 DEBUTS

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