MLB Opening Day 2026: Carson Benge, Kevin McGonigle and 3 other rookies make their mark in MLB debuts
The first full day of regular-season action featured notable swings from rookies making their presence felt right away.
MLB Opening Day is a big deal for any player fortunate enough to find themselves in the lineup or on the mound, but it’s all the more special for those making their major-league debuts. And if there was one theme that emerged over the course of the first full day of 2026 regular-season action , it was a series of notable swings delivered by a selection of rookies making their presence felt in the majors right away. Here’s a look at five of the most memorable debut performances from Opening Day.
Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season Carson Benge, Mets right fielder A pair of Oneil Cruz defensive blunders in center field enabled the Mets to send Paul Skenes packing before he completed the first inning , with five runs scored in the opening frame of the season. But the Mets did not just capitalize on Pirates miscues en route to their 11-7 victory . The most memorable hit of their opener came courtesy of rookie right fielder Carson Benge.
After striking out in his first two career plate appearances, Benge drew an eight-pitch walk to reach base for the first time as a big leaguer. Then, facing Pittsburgh reliever Justin Lawrence in the sixth, Benge pounced on a first-pitch sweeper and sent it soaring over the right field-fence for his first career hit and first career home run. WELCOME TO THE SHOW KID!!!
@Carsonbenge3 | #LGM pic. twitter. com/TtPJHhQcn0 — New York Mets (@Mets) March 26, 2026 In a New York lineup loaded with fresh faces following a busy winter of transactional activity, the 23-year-old Benge stands out as one of the few homegrown projected regulars, alongside Brett Baty and catcher Francisco Alvarez.
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