Among the many exciting elements of Opening Day is the potential for a player to perform well in his debut with a new team. Each year, we see players who suit up for a new club for the first time and deliver big at the plate or impress on the mound. Opening Day for the 2025 season on Thursday was no exception, with several players making a great first impression.
Here's a look at eight who had big games in their debut in a new uniform.
Tyler O'Neill (Orioles debut)
3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
New team, same old song. O'Neill, signed to a 3-year, $49.5 million deal by the Orioles over the winter, held onto his tradition of hitting a home run on Opening Day, doing so for the sixth year in a row, extending the record he set in 2024 as a member of the Red Sox. But it was, to be fair, just that kind of day for the Orioles. In their 12-2 rout of the Blue Jays, they also became the fourth team since 1901 to have at least six home runs on Opening Day, joining the 2019 Dodgers, 2018 White Sox and 1988 Mets.
Cam Smith (MLB debut)
1-for-3
Making your big league debut can be an overwhelming experience. Most players just try to slow everything down and do what they can to soak in the moment. Smith, conversely, attacked the moment. He stepped into the batter¡¯s box and was ready to hack. Smith, who played in only 32 Minor League games and is MLB¡¯s No. 58 prospect, swung at the first pitch he saw on Opening Day and bounced it through the right side for a single. His knock helped the Astros push a run across in the second inning of their victory over the Mets. Smith was very emotional when he learned earlier in the week that he had made Houston¡¯s roster. But once he found himself under the bright lights Thursday, he proved that he was ready for the moment.
Garrett Crochet (Red Sox debut)
ND, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K
It was a surprise when Crochet was named the White Sox Opening Day starter in 2024. To that point, the left-hander didn¡¯t have an MLB start to his name and had pitched in only 13 games over the previous two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022. One year later ¨C and after an All-Star campaign with the White Sox ¨C Crochet was the obvious choice for Boston on Opening Day. The Red Sox acquired him to be their ace, to make this kind of a start. Although he came away with a no-decision in the Red Sox¡¯s win over the Rangers, Crochet was solid over five innings. Leaning on a 96 mph four-seamer and 90 mph cutter, he allowed two runs and struck out four.
Kristian Campbell (MLB debut)
1-for-3, BB
MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 7 prospect is the only one of Boston¡¯s ¡°Big 3¡± prospects to make the team¡¯s Opening Day roster, getting the start at second base on Thursday. Campbell reached base for the first time with a seventh-inning walk, then came to the plate again in the ninth in a 2-2 game with a runner on second base and one out. His 102.2 mph hot shot got past Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, giving Campbell his first big league knock. Even better, it helped set up Wilyer Abreu¡¯s go-ahead, three-run homer one batter later, which lifted the Red Sox to a 1-0 start.
Gavin Sheets (Padres debut)
1-for-1, game-tying PH solo HR
Some players on this list were hotly pursued free agents or trade targets, or highly anticipated top prospects. Not Sheets, who spent last season with the 121-loss White Sox. Non-tendered by Chicago in the offseason, Sheets signed a Minor League deal with the Padres, came to camp as a non-roster invitee and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster. On Thursday, he came off the bench to face Braves reliever Hector Neris with San Diego down by a run in the seventh inning. After working the count full, Sheets caught up to a high fastball and walloped it out to center field to tie things up. The Padres would go on to take a 7-4 lead later in the inning and win their season opener by that score.
Andrés Giménez (Blue Jays debut)
1-3, HR, 2 RBI
Gim¨¦nez was one of many key acquisitions the Blue Jays made during the offseason for what¡¯s shaping up to be a pivotal year in Toronto. While the Blue Jays suffered a tough 12-2 Opening Day loss against a slugging Orioles team, Gim¨¦nez was a bright spot, hitting his first Jays home run and driving in both Toronto runs. After hitting just nine home runs all of last season with Cleveland, Gim¨¦nez is off to a good start as he tries to 2022 offensive form (.837 OPS in 146 games).
Devin Williams (Yankees debut)
SV, 1 IP, 1 ER, 2 K
Considering the at-bats that the Brewers had against Williams on Opening Day, it was almost as if they knew what was coming. Of course, no team has a better book on Williams than Milwaukee, which traded the two-time All-Star closer to New York in December. Williams really labored in his first appearance as a Yankee, throwing 36 pitches. But ultimately, the end result was one that the Yanks hope to see often this season. With the tying runs on base, Williams struck out Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich to seal the win.
Luis Severino (A's debut)
ND, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 4 BB
After a resurgent 2024 season with the Mets, Severino signed a two-year deal (including a player option) worth $67 million with the A¡¯s, the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history. The right-hander dominated in his first outing with the Athletics, issuing just three hits and striking out six batters in six scoreless innings. While he walked four batters, Severino was able to escape jams and showed why the A¡¯s made a push to make him their ace.