Here is a look at the player who has the longest active streak of Opening Day starts at each position, through 2025.
All-time data is since 1901, the first season for which it is available.
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto (Phillies)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: 7
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 Martin Maldonado, who had eight in a row through 2024. But with Contreras now at first base in St. Louis and Maldonado backing up in San Diego, 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: Paul Goldschmidt (Yankees, Cardinals, D-backs)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: 14
Freddie Freeman's own 14-year streak ended when he was scratched from Game 1 of this year's Tokyo Series due to left rib discomfort. But Goldschmidt wasn't far behind him. He made his first Opening Day start for Arizona in 2012, and this year, he takes his streak to his third team after signing with the Yankees as a free agent.
Longest all-time streak: 19 -- Joe Judge (1916-34)
Second base: Ozzie Albies (Braves)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Eight
Only a fractured right thumb sustained 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 eighth straight for the Braves at second base in 2025.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Joe Morgan (1965-84)
Third base: Nolan Arenado (Cardinals, Rockies)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: 12
It looked like Arenado was going to be in the same boat as Goldschmidt in 2025: Trying to extend a long streak with his third team, after leaving the Cardinals. Instead, St. Louis' efforts to trade Arenado this offseason fizzled out. So there Arenado was on Thursday, batting cleanup and playing third base at Busch Stadium. After debuting early in the 2013 season, Arenado still has never missed an Opening Day.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Brooks Robinson (1957-76)
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson (Cubs, Braves) and Trea Turner (Phillies, Dodgers, Nationals)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Nine
Corey Seager had nine straight entering 2025, but while he was in the Rangers' lineup on Thursday, it was at DH instead of shortstop. Up next are Swanson and Turner, two longtime stalwarts at the position. Swanson entered 2025 third on the active list for games played at shortstop, ranking behind only Xander Bogaerts and Francisco Lindor.
Longest all-time streak: 18 -- Luis Aparicio (1956-73)
Left field: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (D-backs, Blue Jays)
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 Thursday's opener. Christian Yelich's five-game streak ended for the same reason. That leaves Gurriel, who made his first career Opening Day start as a second baseman for Toronto in 2019.
Longest all-time streak: 17 -- Barry Bonds (1988-2004), Luis Gonzalez (1991-2007)
Center field: Cody Bellinger (Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers) and Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Six
Even with all of his injuries, Mike Trout started in center field for the Angels on Opening Day in every season from 2013-24. But his shift to right field in 2025 put an end to that, and there was a huge drop-off to the next names on the list. Like Goldschmidt, Bellinger climbs to the top at his position in his first season with the Yankees. Robert could find himself with a new team in 2026 if he rebuilds his trade value, but for now, he makes his sixth consecutive season-opening start for the White Sox.
Longest all-time streak: 20 -- Willie Mays (1954-73)
Right field: Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez (Dodgers, Mariners, Blue Jays) and Hunter Renfroe (Royals, Angels, Brewers, Red Sox, Rays)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Six
Max Kepler's streak of eight straight Opening Day starts in right field was foiled by the Phillies moving him to left after signing him this offseason. That leaves a pair of well-traveled right fielders taking the top spot in his stead. For Renfroe, 2025 was the first time during this streak that he actually started on Opening Day for the same team twice, going back to back in Kansas City. (In fact, Renfroe also started an opener in the right field for a sixth team, the Padres, back in 2017.)
Longest all-time streak: 15 -- Roberto Clemente (1958-72)
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers, Angels)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Six
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, but don't count out the possibility of him adding to that feat in the future.
Starting pitcher: Framber Valdez (Astros) and Logan Webb (Giants)
Consecutive Opening Day starts: Four
Cleveland's Shane Bieber was unable to extend his streak to six in 2025, the latest example of injury problems derailing a lot of these streaks in recent years. With no active streak of five-plus seasons remaining, the top spot goes to Valdez and Webb, two pitchers who have tasted quite a bit of success in recent years, thanks more to their ability to generate ground balls than to elite velocity or strikeout ability.
Longest all-time streak: 14 -- Jack Morris (1980-93)