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Today’s Headlines
Adam Duvall’s home run gives us the first walk-off of 2023!
Adam Duvall is 𝗛𝗜𝗠. pic.twitter.com/GW4qZnZuSY
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 1, 2023
The Boston Red Sox’s 9-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles was a wild one. Baltimore went into the bottom of the ninth with a one-run lead, and a seemingly routine fly ball to left looked to end the game. The fly ball hit left fielder Ryan McKenna’s glove right in the heel, causing him to drop the ball, and let the batter reach safely.
Adam Duvall, who had already homered earlier in the game, stepped up to the plate again. He swiftly swatted a 1-0 pitch over the Green Monster, lifting the Red Sox to victory with the first walk-off win of 2023.
Anthony Volpe collects his first big league hit.
Volpe's 1st hit in The Show 💪
Congrats, @Volpe_Anthony! pic.twitter.com/IMWl9VXRW5
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 1, 2023
21-year-old Anthony Volpe, a kid who grew up a die-hard Yankees fan, became the youngest Yankee to start on Opening Day since Derek Jeter did so in 1996. Although he went hitless in his debut on Thursday, Volpe worked a walk and stole a base. He didn’t have to wait much longer for that first hit to come, however. In his first at-bat on Saturday, Volpe drove a 1-2 slider into left field for his first MLB hit. He then swiped second base, his second of the season.
Welcome to the show, Shintaro Fujinami!
Shintaro Fujinami begins his MLB career with back-to-back strikeouts! pic.twitter.com/SfBS3n5J4C
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2023
Before coming state-side, Shintaro Fujinami spent 10 years in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League. During his time in high school, Fujinami and Shohei Ohtani were rivals on the diamond. It was only fitting that, after signing a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics this offseason, Fujinami would make his MLB debut against a familiar face from back home: Ohtani.
The right-handed pitcher came out strong in his debut yesterday, striking out Taylor Ward and Mike Trout back-to-back. He then got Ohtani to ground out to finish the inning. He cruised through the second inning in similar one-two-three fashion, but things started crumbling in the third inning. Walks and hits galore, Fujinami left the game having given up six runs. Two of his inherited runners scored, making the final line in his debut 2.1 IP, 5 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
Joey Wiemer, Milwaukee Brewers No. 3 prospect, made his MLB debut.
First pitch, first hit! @Brewers No. 3 prospect Joey Wiemer gets his first big league knock! pic.twitter.com/KEP7Q8F4K5
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2023
It was a whirlwind of emotions for Joey Wiemer, the 24-year-old who sits atop Milwaukee Brewers prospect charts. He hit well during spring training but ultimately didn’t make the team’s 2023 Opening Day roster. Instead, he was sent to Triple-A Nashville. Because of an injury on the big league roster, Wiemer never got to play for the Nashville Sounds. On Saturday, with Milwaukee across his chest, Wiemer dropped the first pitch he saw into shallow right field for a double.
Thompson For 3!
TRES THOMPSON! pic.twitter.com/kO6haaalam
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 2, 2023
Trayce Thompson took one out of his brother’s playbook when he launched three home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night. He hit a grand slam in the first inning, a three-run shot in the fifth, and a solo home run in the eighth to wrap up the night and lift the Dodgers to a 10-1 win.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Youth baseball players in Mexico LOVE Randy Arozarena!
¡Hoy es un gran día para la Randy Señal! 😎 ¿Ya están listos para el Opening Day de la #MLB? ¡@RandyArozarena lo esta! 👊#La𝐇VaConTodos 🍊 pic.twitter.com/NLoloeRE7M
— Naranjeros de 𝐇ermosillo (@ClubNaranjeros) March 30, 2023
channeling my inner Sarah Langs: Baseball is the best!!!
Josh Harrison is 2023’s first ~position player pitching!~
🚨 JOSH HARRISON IS THE FIRST 🚨
(•_•)
<) )╯POSITION
/
(•_•)
( (> PLAYER
/
(•_•)
<) )> PITCHING
/
of the 2023 season! pic.twitter.com/PU7Pti2xnK— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 1, 2023
The Philadelphia Phillies were down 13-3 to the Texas Rangers heading into the eighth inning of Saturday’s game. Craig Kimbrel took the ball to start the inning but ended up loading the bases. So, naturally, here comes veteran second baseman Josh Harrison to get the Phillies out of the jam. All three inherited runners would come around to score by the time he got the final two outs of the inning. This was Harrison’s fifth career pitching appearance and the first position player pitching in 2023.
Clayton Kershaw’s teammates try to imitate Clayton Kershaw.
.@Dodgers players imitating Clayton Kershaw is incredible!
The legendary lefty makes his 2023 debut tonight for LAD. pic.twitter.com/j5cJOQ4Dv0
— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2023
The way Clayton Kershaw winds up, stretching his arms way above his head, is iconic. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I love seeing other players appreciate his greatness.
Injuries & Transactions
SP Robbie Ray was placed in the 15-day IL with a left flexor strain.
IF Luis Urías will go on the injured list with a left hamstring injury. The team expects him to miss eight weeks.
RP Jhoan Duran wasn’t available to pitch Saturday after “sleeping funny” the night before. He is day-to-day.
2B Brandon Lowe left yesterday’s game with a right big toe contusion. He was scheduled for a day off today, per Rays manager Kevin Cash, but should be ready to start Monday.
2B Jake Cronenworth and the San Diego Padres agreed to a 7-year contract extension worth $80 million, as reported by Dennis Lin and Jeff Passan.
Articles You Should Read
Good Padre-tions: Why the San Diego Padres Should Be the Envy of MLB — Randy Holt, Pitcher List
GIF Breakdown: Shintaro Fujinami’s MLB Debut in 27 GIFs — Ben Palmer, Pitcher List
Reflections on the Revolution in Minor League Labor Relations — Michael Baumann, FanGraphs
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
Proof Reading Dept: Joey Weimar, Milwaukee Brewers. You know *those* guys all look alike anyway.