Wow, what a wild week it’s been in baseball! The season kicked off with a bang, featuring surprises and record-breaking moments. Let’s recap some of the highlights and oddities from this exciting start.
First, the Yankees brought out their new bats and quickly stole the spotlight. They hit home runs in such abundance that it seemed like they’d surpassed some teams’ entire seasons in just a few days. One particular surprise was when catcher Austin Wells led off the season with the Yankees’ first-ever home run from a catcher in the leadoff spot. Even greats like Rickey Henderson and Derek Jeter never achieved this!
Speaking of records, the Yankees had a spectacular game against the Brewers, winning 20-9. They thrashed Milwaukee’s pitcher, Nestor Cortes, who happened to make history by giving up three home runs on just his first three pitches after joining the Brewers. The only pitchers before him to do that since records began in 1988? None. For perspective, the Yankees hit nine homers in one game, a feat most teams struggle to achieve in entire months. In a fun comparison, it took the New York Giants football team three games to score more than 20 points last season, while the Yankees did it by Game 2 of the baseball season!
Aaron Judge continued to dazzle fans, smacking three home runs in one game. Did you know he hit four homers in one game last season? That kind of power can shift games, but it’s fair to wonder if fans sometimes take his talent for granted, as his early season stats are nearly off the charts.
Now let’s shift gears to the newest MLB site in Sacramento. The Cubs celebrated their inaugural game there by scoring 18 runs in a debut that wowed attendees. One standout moment was when catcher Carson Kelly became the second player ever to hit for the cycle in a brand-new MLB park, making history in front of the eager Sacramento crowd.
In other quirky news, injuries also claimed some unusual victims this week. Notably, Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales fractured his ankle during a home run trot—definitely a “you had to see it to believe it” moment. Meanwhile, Phillies reliever Matt Strahm humorously described a packing injury that scratched him from a game. It’s hard not to laugh, even if it’s at their expense sometimes.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: only eight players across the league hit home runs by Sunday night, while the Mets struggled to even register hits from six players. It’s a juxtaposition that says a lot about current team statuses early in the season.
In terms of statistics and trends, the Dodgers have made a sizzling start too, winning every game they played. They faced both reigning Cy Young winners and came out on top—an impressive feat in the early weeks of the season.
As we look ahead to the rest of the season, the unpredictability of baseball is what keeps fans coming back for more. Here’s to hoping the rest of the season continues to surprise and entertain in equal measure! Want to dive deeper into the stats and history? Check out MLB for up-to-date information as the season unfolds.
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Source linkChicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, MLB
