New Boston Red Sox' Slugger Looking to Claim Major League History on Opening Day
If Boston Red Sox' slugger Tyler O'Neill is able to hit a home run on Opening Day on Thursday, he'll be the first player to homer in five straight Opening Day games. The Red Sox open up at the Seattle Mariners.
When Boston Red Sox' slugger Tyler O'Neill takes the field on Thursday night for Opening Day, he'll do so trying to make some very unique Major League history.
O'Neill, who was acquired this offseason in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, has homered in four straight Opening Day contests. Multiple players have done that before, but no player has ever homered on five straight Opening Days.
Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com:
REMINDER ENTERING TOMORROW:
Tyler O’Neill has homered in 4 straight Opening Day games, tied for the most consecutive seasons with at least 1 Opening Day HR, with:
1994-97 Todd Hundley
1977-80 Gary Carter
1955-58 Yogi Berra
h/t (@EliasSports)
That would be quite the accomplishment for O'Neill, and it would be quite a Red Sox debut for him. The Sox take on the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park, and ironically enough, O'Neill came up as a Mariners prospect. He was eventually traded to St. Louis from Seattle for starting pitcher Marco Gonzales.
The 28-year-old Canadian is heading into his seventh MLB season. The Red Sox will be hoping that he is able to replicate his stellar 2021 season which saw him hit 34 homers and bring in 80 runs for the Cardinals. In addition to his power, he also provides speed (15 stolen bases in 2021) and good glove work. He won Gold Glove Awards in both 2020 and 2021.
He should hit in the middle of the Red Sox' order, perhaps sandwiched between Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida.
The Red Sox and Mariners will play on Thursday night at 10:10 p.m. ET.
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