Here is a look at the player who has the longest active streak of Opening Day starts at each position through 2026.
All-time data is since 1901, the first season for which it is available.
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto (Phillies)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Eight
When Yadier Molina retired before the 2023 season, his streak of 18 consecutive Opening Day starts at catcher for the Cardinals came to an end. He was succeeded by Willson Contreras and Martín Maldonado, who had eight in a row through 2024. But with Contreras now playing first base and Maldonado serving in a backup role before retiring, it's Realmuto's turn at the top. The three-time All-Star has not missed an Opening Day behind the plate since arriving in Philly in 2019.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Ivan Rodriguez (1992-2011)
First base: Matt Olson (Braves, Athletics) and Carlos Santana (D-backs, Guardians, Twins, Pirates, Royals, Phillies)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Nine
Two 14-year streaks recently came to a close: Paul Goldschmidt was not in the Yankees’ starting lineup for Wednesday’s Opening Night game, while in 2025, Freddie Freeman was scratched from Game 1 of the Tokyo Series due to left rib discomfort. That means Olson and Santana, who each extended their respective streaks to nine in 2026, have taken over the active leader spot here. Santana got his latest start at first base for the D-backs, the ninth club he's played for in his career and the sixth during an Opening Day streak that began in 2018 with Philadelphia.
Longest all-time streak: 19 -- Joe Judge (1916-34)
Second base: Ozzie Albies (Braves)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Nine
Only a fractured right thumb suffered during the 2023 World Baseball Classic broke a Jose Altuve streak that could have increased to 13 seasons in 2024. (Although Altuve moved to left field in 2025.) Albies, who made his first Opening Day start at age 21 in 2018, logged his ninth straight for the Braves at second base in 2026.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Joe Morgan (1965-84)
Third base: Nolan Arenado (D-backs, Cardinals, Rockies)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: 13
Arenado extended a long streak with his third team after being traded to the D-backs in the offseason. After debuting early in the 2013 season, Arenado still has never missed an Opening Day, previously making seven such starts for the Rockies and five for the Cardinals.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Brooks Robinson (1957-76)
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson (Cubs, Braves) and Trea Turner (Phillies, Dodgers, Nationals)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Ten
Corey Seager had nine straight entering 2025, but while he was in the Rangers' lineup to start the season, it was at DH instead of shortstop. Up next are Swanson and Turner, two longtime stalwarts at the position. Swanson entered 2026 third on the active list for games played at shortstop, ranking behind only Xander Bogaerts and Francisco Lindor; Turner came in fifth.
Longest all-time streak: 18 -- Luis Aparicio (1956-73)
Left field: Randy Arozarena (Mariners, Rays) and Ian Happ (Cubs)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Five
Left field tends to be a more transient position, so there aren't any long streaks here. Andrew Benintendi had eight straight starts in left field through 2024 but started at DH for the White Sox in the 2025 opener. Christian Yelich's five-game streak ended for the same reason. That left Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who made his first career Opening Day start as a second baseman for Toronto in 2019, but his streak in left ended in 2026 as he began the season on the injured list (right ACL surgery recovery).
Longest all-time streak: 17 -- Barry Bonds (1988-2004), Luis Gonzalez (1991-2007)
Center field: Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Seven
Robert, who was traded to the Mets during the 2025-26 offseason, has now taken his streak through two different cities. The Yankees’ Cody Bellinger was previously tied with Robert with six straight Opening Day starts, but Bellinger started in left field, rather than center, in New York’s 2026 Opening Night clash with the Giants.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Willie Mays (1954-73)
Right field: Kyle Tucker (Dodgers, Cubs, Astros)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Six
Tucker, who took over as the leader in right field in 2026, had a direct hand in ending one incumbent streak -- new teammate Teoscar Hernández, who had been an Opening Day right fielder for five consecutive seasons, got his latest start in left. Hunter Renfroe, with whom Hernández had been tied, remained a free agent through the beginning of the regular season.
Longest all-time streak: 15 -- Roberto Clemente (1958-72)
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers, Angels)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Seven
Because this is Ohtani, this streak includes two seasons (2022-23) when he also started on the mound on Opening Day. Ohtani couldn't complete his rehab from elbow surgery in time to make that three in 2025, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto drew the Opening Day start for L.A. in 2026, but don't count out the possibility of Ohtani adding to that feat in the future.
Starting pitcher: Logan Webb (Giants)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Five
Webb’s start Wednesday against the Yankees was his fifth in a row on Opening Day, trailing only Juan Marichal (six) for the most in Giants history. It broke a tie with Framber Valdez, who had started four straight Opening Days for the Astros but, after signing with the Tigers in free agency, ceded the nod to two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal in 2026.
Longest all-time streak: 14 -- Jack Morris (1980-93)