Juan Soto of the New York Yankees bats in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros during Opening Day at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Dozens of international players started the 2024 season off with a bang, either helping lead their team to victory or achieving personal success.
Here are the top 10 international player performances on Opening Day 2024.
Anthony Santander of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Adley Rutschman after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
10. Anthony Santander, RF, Baltimore Orioles (Venezuela) – In an 11-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels, Santander went 1-for-4 with four RBI.
He hit an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first, a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second, and drilled a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the fourth to extend Baltimores’ lead to 7-1.
The native of Margarita, Venezuela, had a .777 OPS with five home runs in spring training.
Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate in the first inning during an Opening Day game against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park on March 28, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
9. Yu Darvish, RHP, San Diego Padres (Japan) – The 37-year-old’s best years are probably behind him, but Darvish can still sling it.
The Padres Opening Day starter allowed one earned run on five hits and struck out seven in five innings in a 6-4 win against National League West rival San Francisco Giants.
Darvish threw 53 of his 78 pitches for strikes.
Yainer Diaz of the Houston Astros bats during the game between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michael Starghill/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
8. Yainer Diaz, C, Houston Astros (Dominican Republic) – Diaz went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Thursday’s 5-4 loss against the New York Yankees.
While the catcher did not receive a chance to show off his arm, he did line three singles in the game, including an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the first, giving Houston a 3-0 lead.
Diaz has the power and bat speed to be one of MLB’s best-hitting catchers, and his Thursday performance could indicate what’s to come.
Third base coach and field coordinator Mike Rabelo and Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after Cruz’ game tying solo home run in the ninth inning of the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
7. Oneil Cruz, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates (Dominican Republic) – Cruz hit a game-tying solo home run in the top of the eighth of a 12-inning marathon between the Pirates and Miami Marlins on Thursday.
The opposite-field shot proved extremely important, as Pittsburgh would go on to win the game 6-5 in 12 innings.
Cruz played just nine games in 2023 due to a fractured left fibula but seems healthy, blasting seven home runs in spring training.
Pablo Lopez of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Kansas City Royals on March 28, 2024 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
6. Pablo Lopez, RHP, Minnesota Twins (Venezuela) – Lopez, a dark horse Cy Young candidate, threw seven spectacular innings in a 4-1 win against the Royals on Thursday.
The 2023 All-Star allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out seven. The only run Lopez permitted in the game was a solo shot to Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia in the first inning.
Frankie Montas of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
5. Frankie Montas, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Dominican Republic) – Considering Frankie Montas threw just 1.1 innings for the New York Yankees in 2023, his bounce-back outing on Thursday must have been huge for his confidence.
In an 8-2 win against the Washington Nationals, Montas threw six scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out four. After arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, the right-hander missed most of the 2023 season.
Perhaps Montas is what the Reds need to sneak back into the postseason.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angles Dodgers doubles in the first inning during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
4. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Los Angeles Dodgers (Japan) – The man who will receive checks from the Dodgers until 2043 went 2-for-3 with one walk and one strikeout on Thursday.
Perhaps not the most glamorous hitting display, but Ohtani proved once again what makes his bat so dangerous.
He laced a double in the first inning against Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas and a 113-mph single in the fifth in the 7-1 win.
Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
3. Adolis Garcia, RF, Texas Rangers (Cuba) – The former Yomiuri Giant in NPB and 2023 ALCS MVP went 2-for-4 with a majestic solo home run to left field in the Rangers’ 4-3 extra-inning win over the Chicago Cubs on Opening Day in Texas.
His game-tying home run in the bottom of the sixth tied the game at two, and catcher Jonah Heim hit a walk-off line drive single to center field in the bottom of the 10th.
If the 31-year-old from Ciego de Avila can remain healthy, he has as good a chance as anyone to lead the MLB in home runs this year.
Jose Berrios of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
2. Jose Berrios, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (Puerto Rico) – Berrios may not have had a better outing than Lopez or Montas, but perhaps it was more gutsy.
Heading into yesterday’s game, Berrios had a 3-4 record with an ERA of 4.91 in 10 appearances in his career against Tampa Bay. He threw six innings of two-run ball in Toronto’s 8-2 win against the Rays on Thursday, striking out six in the process.
Berrios appears to be recovering from his dreadful 2022 season, during which he allowed an American League-high 199 hits and 100 earned runs.
Juan Soto of the New York Yankees bats in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros during Opening Day at Minute Maid Park on March 28, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
1. Juan Soto, RF, New York Yankees (Dominican Republic) – The Yankees’ come-from-behind win against rival Houston was led by Juan Soto, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the 5-4 win.
Surprisingly, Soto’s play in the outfield saved the day for New York. With runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the ninth for the Astros, Kyle Tucker laced a single to Soto in right field.
Mauricio Dubon, attempting to score from second on the hit, was gunned out by Soto from right field.
Soto delivered a one-hop throw to catcher Jose Trevino, who tagged Dubon out just before he touched home. The Astros challenged the play, but the call on the field was upheld, helping the Yankees secure the victory.
