The season is young, but there are already plenty of pitchers who put themselves on the radar.
Whether they are young pitchers showing a new level, veterans adding a new wrinkle to their profile or healthy pitchers regaining their previous form, no shortage of starters impressed in their first starts of the new season.
Here are 10 pitchers who excelled in their season debuts.
Mackenzie Gore, Nationals
6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K (March 27 vs. PHI)
Could this be the year that Gore puts it all together? The 26-year-old has long been a household baseball name and we saw Gore tap into his potential last year, when he had a 3.90 ERA and 3.53 FIP in 166 1/3 innings. What Gore did on Opening Day this year, however, was the best version we¡¯ve seen of the talented young lefty. Gore joined Bob Gibson (1967) as the only pitchers in AL/NL history with 13 strikeouts and no walks in a scoreless outing on Opening Day. Gore dominated with a new slider that produced six strikeouts and whiffs on eight of 10 swings.
Jes¨²s Luzardo, Phillies
5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 11 K (March 29 at WSH)
The Phillies didn¡¯t exactly need another talented starting pitcher last offseason, but they acquired Luzardo from the Marlins anyway. After an injury-riddled 2024 season, Luzardo looked much closer to his ¡®23 form (3.58 ERA and 208 strikeouts) in his first outing with the Phillies. The 27-year-old lefty punched out 11 Nationals hitters in just five innings and generated whiffs on 18 of 43 swings against him. Luzardo¡¯s fastball velocity was up 1.7 mph and he produced five strikeouts on both his slider and new sweeper.
Shane Baz, Rays
6 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K (April 1 vs. PIT)
Baz dazzled in his first start of the season and his first start against the team (Pittsburgh) that drafted him 12th overall in the 2017 Draft. After years of top prospect status (he ranked as high as No. 12 by MLB Pipeline before the 2022 season), Baz had only thrown 119 2/3 big league innings before this year due to Tommy John surgery that wiped out the entire '23 season. In his '25 opener, we saw exactly why Baz has been hyped for so long. The 25-year-old averaged 97.1 mph on his four-seamer but his vicious mid-80s curveball was his standout pitch and responsible for eight of his 10 strikeouts.
Casey Mize, Tigers
5 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K (April 1 at SEA)
Could this be the beginning of a long-awaited breakout for the No. 1 pick in the 2018 Draft? Coming into this season, Mize had a 4.36 ERA and 4.60 FIP in 291 innings across parts of four seasons with the Tigers, which included him missing the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery and back surgery. The soon-to-be 28-year-old dominated in his first start against the Mariners, throwing at least 5 2/3 scoreless innings for just the third time in his career. Mize generated whiffs at an excellent 42.8 percent rate and garned plenty of swings and misses on his four-seamer (five), splitter (five) and slider (four).
Dustin May, Dodgers
5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K (April 1 vs. ATL)
What a journey it's been for May. A slew of injuries -- which includes Tommy John surgery in 2021, flexor tendon surgery in ¡®23 and a life-threatening esophagus surgery last year -- limited May to just 191 2/3 big league innings before this year. Making his first appearance since May 17, 2023, May dazzled against the Braves, allowing just one unearned run across five innings and flashing his usual electric array of stuff. May mainly relied on his 3,000-plus RPM sweeper and spent the rest of his time throwing three variations of a mid-90s fastball (four-seamer, sinker and cutter). The Dodgers have an embarrassment of riches in the rotation and if May can remain healthy, their starters could be the best in baseball.
Brady Singer, Reds
7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K (March 31 vs. TEX)
When Singer threw seven scoreless innings against the Rangers, he became the first Reds pitcher to pull that off in his debut for the team since Tom Seaver in 1977. That Singer did so against a loaded Rangers lineup in the hitter-friendly confines of Great American Ball Park made it all the more impressive. It marked just the third time in Singer's career that he tossed seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and his first time since July 28, 2022. Singer also generated whiffs on various pitches: six on sliders, four on sinkers, three on four-seamers and three on a new cutter.
Jack Leiter, Rangers
5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K (March 28 vs. BOS)
The arrow was pointing up to begin the season for Leiter, who flashed a significant velocity boost in Spring Training along with a new sinker and ¡°kick¡± changeup. Leiter showed exactly why hopes were high for him in his first start, as the right-hander allowed just one run in five innings and struck out four batters against a strong Red Sox lineup. Drafted No. 2 overall out of Vanderbilt by the Rangers in the 2021 Draft, Leiter has been viewed as a potential frontline starter for years. Maybe this will become that year.
Jeffrey Springs, Athletics
6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K (March 28 at SEA)
Springs burst onto the scene in 2022-23 with the Rays, when he had a 2.26 ERA and 2.91 FIP in 151 1/3 innings. After undergoing Tommy John surgery just three starts into his 2023 season, Springs returned for seven strong starts (3.27 ERA in 33 innings) with the Rays in ¡®24 before he was traded to the A¡¯s over the offseason. Springs showed exactly why he can be an asset in his first A¡¯s start, striking out nine batters in six innings and showcasing his usual excellent command and nasty changeup. If Springs and Luis Severino can produce at their best, the A¡¯s could be a team to watch this season.
Kris Bubic, Royals
6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K (March 31 at MIL)
Starting pitching was the Royals¡¯ strength last season when they made a surprise playoff appearance as a Wild Card team. That group could be even better this year if Bubic¡¯s first start was any indication. After missing 15 months due to Tommy John surgery, Bubic returned last July and was excellent in the Royals¡¯ bullpen (2.67 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings). Kansas City moved Bubic back to the rotation this year -- the lefty was a starter from 2020-23 -- and saw immediate results. Bubic generated whiffs on 15 of 47 swings, including 11 on his 92.5 mph four-seamer, averaging an excellent 18.5 inches of induced vertical break.
Tylor Megill, Mets
5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K (March 28 at HOU)
The Mets are developing a reputation for getting the most out of their starting pitchers (see: Sean Manaea and Luis Severino last year). Now, we might see the likes of Megill, Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning do the same this season. In Megill¡¯s first start, he allowed just one run in five innings with six strikeouts while showcasing a revamped version of a nasty slider with more drop in exchange for less velocity. If his 96.4 mph four-seamer velocity also sticks, Megill could be a real weapon for the Mets this season.