Rookies steal Opening Day
MLB named Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter AL Player of the Week and Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart NL Player of the Week after standout Opening Day showings, with Kevin McGonigle (Detroit) recording a four‑hit debut that’s already spawned commemorative merch ( ). The Mariners also grabbed headlines by signing prospect Colt Emerson to a record $95 million deal before his debut, and stadiums rolled out absurd snacks — think Arizona’s peanut‑butter cookie milkshake and Colorado’s two‑foot 'Glizzilla' dog ( ).
Chase DeLauter homered in his first regular-season at-bat and finished Opening Day 3-for-5 with two home runs and two RBIs, becoming the first player in Cleveland franchise history to hit multiple homers in his regular‑season debut. (mlb.com) MLB Pipeline lists DeLauter among its Top Prospects (No. 46 overall), and after his early power surge he exited a recent game with a bruised left foot after fouling a pitch; team X‑rays were reported negative. (mlb.com) Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart collected seven hits in the Reds’ opening series — a 7‑for‑10 line with three walks and four extra‑base hits — and his three‑hit Opening Day made him the first Reds rookie to record three hits on Opening Day. (cincinnati.com) Kevin McGonigle went 4‑for‑5 in his MLB debut on March 26, 2026, launched a two‑run double on the first pitch he saw and became the youngest player with four or more hits on Opening Day since 1990. (mlb.com) The Detroit Free Press is merchandising McGonigle’s debut with an official front‑page print available through the USA TODAY Store, and local outlets highlighted the print as must‑buy memorabilia immediately after the game. (freep.com) Seattle’s deal for prospect Colt Emerson guarantees eight years and $95 million, includes a ninth‑year club option plus a full no‑trade clause and performance escalators that can push the total north of $130 million, topping the previous pre‑debut record set at roughly $82 million. (mlb.com) Ballpark concessions leaned into spectacle: Chase Field’s “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” milkshake is a salted‑caramel shake loaded with peanut‑butter sandwich cookies, Kit Kat pieces and Cracker Jack, while Coors Field’s new “Glizzilla” is a two‑foot, one‑pound hot dog built for sharing and topped with mac‑and‑cheese offerings. (arizonasports.com)
