TORONTO -- At this point, Opening Day home runs are expected from Tyler O'Neill. They’re automatic. Even his new Baltimore teammates -- many of whom he didn’t meet until arriving at Spring Training in mid-February -- could have predicted what was coming Thursday.
“I guess it’s going to happen. I mean, the odds are pretty good for him to hit a homer on Opening Day,” infielder Jackson Holliday said.
“Oh, I mean, I saw it. Everyone kind of knew,” catcher Adley Rutschman said.
Making his Orioles debut in his native Canada, O’Neill extended his AL/NL record of consecutive Opening Days with a home run to six, swatting a three-run homer in the third inning of a season-opening 12-2 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. It was an opposite-field blast to right off Toronto right-hander José Berríos, one of six homers hit by the O’s.
The first four Opening Days of O’Neill’s historic streak came with the Cardinals from 2020-23. Last year, he homered in the Red Sox’s March 28 opener in Seattle, setting an AL/NL mark by homering on five straight Opening Days. Prior to that, the record was four, shared by Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58).
As this year’s season opener arrived, a chance to further separate himself had to be on O’Neill’s mind, right?
“Yeah, it’s there. It’s there, for sure,” O’Neill said. “Just not trying to make too much of it. Just try to go out, have a good first at-bat, see what the game gives me from there. Obviously, I understand what’s going on, but not like I’m trying to go up there and do anything crazy.”
This isn’t normal, though. Not many players have even hit this many homers in season-opening games overall.
In fact, the AL/NL record for total career Opening Day home runs is eight, a mark shared by Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Robinson. O’Neill now sits tied for seventh with six, a group that includes Barry Bonds and Brooks Robinson, among others.
But none of those guys had an Opening Day home run streak like this.
“I mean, it’s fun, right? It’s a good time, and it’s a fun streak, but I don’t really think too much of it anyway,” O’Neill said. “I already had the record last year, so today was just a little cherry on top.”
O’Neill wasted little time making an impact for the Orioles, who signed the 29-year-old outfielder to a three-year, $49.5 million deal in December. He became the first O’s player to hit a home run in a debut for the team that came on Opening Day since Nelson Cruz on March 31, 2014.
Not only that, but O’Neill reached base in all five of his plate appearances, adding two singles and two walks. He’s the first player in Orioles history (since 1954) to have five or more plate appearances in his first game for the team and not record an out.
On top of all that, O’Neill continued to establish himself as a popular clubhouse guy by buying two dozen donuts from Canadian coffeehouse chain Tim Hortons and sharing them with his teammates on Thursday morning, as he promised to do ahead of time.
“I didn’t notice that until after the game when I saw him eating one,” right-hander Zach Eflin said. “That’s the kind of guy he is. He takes care of everyone.”
“He’s a team guy. I know that he’s really excited to be here,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s a wonderful, wonderful person. To have the start that he has had for us, that’s going to be big.”
During O’Neill’s eight-year MLB career, the Burnaby, British Columbia native had never previously started a season north of the border. The Rogers Centre stands were filled with family members and friends eager to cheer him on.
From the Tim Hortons stop in the morning to the win with his new team, O’Neill’s day couldn’t have gone much better.
“Very special,” O’Neill said. “I had a great day so far, actually.”
But it was the extension of the Opening Day home run streak that had everybody talking.
“It’s home and road, Canada and U.S. You tip your hat, man,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “He likes Opening Day. I’m glad tomorrow’s not Opening Day.”