Red Sox LF O’Neill sets Opening Day HR record
Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill became the first player in major league history to homer on five straight Opening Days in Thursday’s 6-4 win at the Seattle Mariners.
In his Red Sox debut, O’Neill went deep on the first pitch of the eighth inning, breaking the mark he had shared with Todd Hundley (1994-97) and Hall of Famers Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58).
O’Neill’s blast to right-center field off Mariners reliever Cody Bolton gave Boston a 6-4 lead.
Rays SS Franco placed on administrative leave again
The Tampa Bay Rays took shortstop Wander Franco off the 40-man roster and placed him on paid administrative leave Thursday as the investigation continues into allegations he had a relationship with a teenage girl.
The procedural move was made by agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association, and his placement on the list runs through June 1.
Franco, 23, ended the 2023 season on administrative leave, placed there Aug. 22 as MLB launched an investigation into social media posts emerged that alleged he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor in his native Dominican Republic.
Giants release Sandoval
The San Francisco Giants released longtime fan favorite Pablo Sandoval on Thursday, hours before the season opener against the San Diego Padres.
Sandoval, the MVP of the 2012 World Series, was signed to a minor league contract in February but his bid to be on a major league roster for the first time since 2021 fell short.
Sandoval was a member of three San
Francisco championship teams – 2010, 2012, 2014 – and was nicknamed the “Kung Fu Panda.” He hit three homers during Game 1 of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers and six overall in that postseason.
Sandoval, 37, batted .250 with 14 strikeouts in 28 at-bats in spring training this year. The last hit came Tuesday night in a 3-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics at Oracle Park.
Cubs ace Steele exits opener with hamstring injury
Chicago Cubs ace left-hander Justin Steele sustained a left hamstring injury Thursday while fielding a bunt in the fifth inning of a 4-3, 10-inning loss in the season opener against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
Steele immediately clutched at the back of his left leg after backhanding the ball to first baseman Michael Busch on a bunt by Leody Taveras.
Julian Merryweather came in to replace Steele, who left after allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Steele, 28, posted a 16-5 record with a 3.06 ERA last season to finish fifth in the balloting for the National League’s Cy Young Award.
Nationals 3B Senzel (thumb) injured prior to game
Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel fractured his right thumb prior to Thursday’s seasonopening game and will miss approximately three to four weeks.
Senzel, 28, sustained the injury while fielding grounders during batting practice prior to the game against the host Cincinnati Reds. One grounder struck his right thumb and X-rays confirmed the break.
It was a cruel break for Senzel, who was returning to Cincinnati to face his former team after spending five seasons with the Reds. He was the club’s No. 2 overall draft selection in 2016.