Opening Day major league debuts have become a rare spectacle.
Teams would rather have players get acclimated to the big leagues in less stressful situations than play in front of a sold-out crowd on a de facto civic holiday.
Nevertheless, a select group of players will experience their first taste of the big leagues on opening day. Here are five who stand out.
Carson Benge, Mets
On Thursday, Benge figures to start in right field as the New York Mets host the Pittsburgh Pirates. He will face the 2025 National League Cy Young winner, Paul Skenes. However long the 23-year-old Benge’s career lasts, he likely won’t face many pitchers better than Skenes.
Benge was the Mets’ first-round draft pick in 2024, selected 19th overall from Oklahoma State. In 131 minor-league games, he hit .280/.389/.468 with 17 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Justin Crawford, Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to reach the postseason for a fifth straight year, but are entrusting center field to Crawford as they get set to open Thursday at home against the Texas Rangers.
The 22-year-old was the Phillies’ first-round pick (17th overall) in 2022 from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Crawford hit .322/.385/.446 with 19 homers and 145 steals in 325 games in the minors.
Kevin McGonigle, Tigers
Poised at shortstop for the Detroit Tigers on Thursday against the Padres in San Diego, McGonigle steps onto the field as baseball’s second-best prospect, eager to leave his mark while rival shortstop prospect Konnor Griffin of the Pirates bides his time in Triple-A.
The Tigers chose McGonigle with the 37th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 draft from Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill, Pa. In 183 games on the farm, he had a .309/.410/.512 slash line with 25 home runs and 40 stolen bases.
TJ Rumfield, Rockies
The least-touted player on this list, Rumfield, will start at first base when the Colorado Rockies open on Friday night against the Marlins in Miami, but he joined the team only in January, coming over from the New York Yankees in a trade for reliever Angel Chivilli.
The Phillies selected Rumfield in the 12th round in 2021 from Virginia Tech. The 25-year-old batted .271/.365/.431 with 52 homers in 430 games in the minors.
JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are in rebuilding mode for the first time in more than three decades, and they expect Wetherholt to be a foundational piece. He will start at second base on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 23-year-old was the seventh overall selection in 2024 from West Virginia University. Wetherholt arrives in the big leagues after just 138 games in the minors, in which he slashed .304/.418/.487 while homering 19 times and stealing 25 bases.
