With the 2026 MLB season underway, there have already been numerous opening day debuts that have turned heads. It’s looking like the new group of ballplayers is becoming the season’s must-watch storyline.
Three players who were borderline opening-day roster decisions are assembling early-season highlight reels and quickly injecting life into the new season. They’ve done that even with baseball’s number one prospect, Konnor Griffin, being sent down to Triple-A after spring training.
Konnor Griffin may have dominated the prospect spotlight, but Kevin McGonigle was never far behind as the number two-ranked prospect. It almost seemed that the 2023 first-rounder was completely overshadowed by the hype around Griffin in the buildup to spring training.
That changed after the Pennsylvania-born shortstop put up a strong .250/.411/.888 slash line with two home runs and two stolen bases. He also garnered 11 walks to nine strikeouts, and even stole a base hit away from the aforementioned Griffin in a stunning defensive display.
McGonigle’s spring performance was enough to earn him an opening day roster spot on the Tigers against the San Diego Padres. He rewarded the move by debuting with a four-hit game off Nick Pivetta in an 8-2 victory, including two doubles and two RBIs. The 21-year-old’s performance marks the first time a player debuted with four hits since Wilson Ramos’ 2010 debut. It’s also the first time done on opening day since Delino DeShields in 1990.
McGonigle also came close to his first-career home run, but was robbed at the wall on a leaping catch by outfielder Jackson Merrill. He was also unsuccessful on his first ABS challenge of his career.
The former first-rounder has since cooled off by going one-for-seven with four strikeouts. That lone hit in the last two games was also a go-ahead two-run single on March 28.
McGonigle has immediately made a case to permanently replace Trey Sweeney at the shortstop position. Sweeney went under the Mendoza line in 2025, making him the weakest regular starter on the team. For now, it seems the Tigers have solved that hole and could enjoy a ride at the top of the American League Central.
The Cardinals needed a marquee player after a string of veteran exits over the years and some lackluster performances from their younger corps. Their 2025 season did feature a gold-glove performance at shortstop by Masyn Wynn. Others, including Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II, were mediocre.
JJ Wetherholt, drafted by the club in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft, was the apparent answer to the declining play of Nolan Gorman and the departure of Paul DeJong. He did put up a respectable spring, going .212/.386/.780 with two home runs and two stolen bases. It was enough to earn him an opening day roster spot just like McGonigle.
Wetherholt’s debut series wasn’t just good; it might be better than McGonigle’s debut. The 23-year-old, in his second at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays, hit a home run to straightaway center. Then, he snagged a liner at second base from first baseman Yandy Diaz.
The next day, after just missing a ground ball hit by Nick Fortes, Wetherholt hit a walk-off two-run single to win the game for St. Louis against Tampa Bay 6-5. That hit improved the team to 2-0 on the season.
Wetherholt’s home run was the first opening day debut home run by a player on the Cardinals since Bobby Smith in 1957. His walk-off also made history, being the second Cardinal to get a hit in that situation since Curt Ford in 1985. His impact on the Cardinals in the first two games is akin to McGonigle’s impact on the Tigers.
The question is whether he’s doing enough to permanently move Gorman to a bench role. If he begins to slump, he could find himself in that role while Gorman takes over second base duties. For now, his job appears to be safe.
Cleveland’s recent teams have leaned heavily on contact, speed, and situational offense, with José Ramírez usually carrying much of the lineup’s power. That worked well enough between 2022 and 2024, appearing in the Division Series twice and the Championship Series once.
In 2025, however, they ran into serious problems with their offense, hitting just .226 and having an on-base percentage under .300. Aside from Ramirez and designated hitter Kyle Manzardo, no one on the team hit over 15 home runs in 2025. After Chase DeLauter knocked three home runs and slashed a ridiculous .459/.535/1.373 in spring training, he got the opening day nod.
This was not DeLauter’s debut, since he started a few postseason games in 2025. He immediately gave the Guardians a power surge with his first swing of the season against the Seattle Mariners. Then, later in the game, he did it again.
The next day, DeLauter hit his third home run of the season off George Kirby. The day after that, he clubbed home run number four off closer Andres Munoz in a display of opposite-field strength.
DeLauter’s feat isn’t the first time it’s happened, joining Trevor Story, who did it with the Colorado Rockies in 2016. His performance brought Cleveland to a 2-1 start in the regular season. He also joins the list of players who hit a home run in their first regular-season at-bat.
There have been injury concerns with DeLauter, who hasn’t played more than 50 professional games in a season since 2023. If he stays healthy and somehow continues playing at this clip of baseball, he’s going to give Ramirez much-needed relief in the lineup.
There is absolutely no reason why any fan should be tuning out this baseball season. That’s not just because of a potential lockout in 2027 or saying “it’s too early in the season to care.” The effects of the three players who just made their regular-season debuts are reason enough to follow storylines this year.
Opening Day always marks the start of a new chapter of baseball and, for some, their first glimpse into the future of the sport. If these three players are any indication, the future of offense and defense in the MLB is bright.
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