Rookies break out on Opening Day, ABS already making an impact and Dodger Stadium gets a new name

One of the best parts about Opening Day is getting to see players you’ve heard about in your favorite team’s minor league system play their first game in the big leagues. Normally, it can take a little while to adjust to major league talent; however, quite a few of them already made an impact for their teams.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman recap all the impressive debuts from the young stars, including Jake DeLauter, JJ Wetherholt, Carson Benge, and Munetaka Murakami, all hitting their first career home run and Kevin McGonigle who picked up four hits. Yes, it’s just one game, but there are strong reasons to believe in the early success from these players.

Later, Jake and Jordan give their early thoughts on the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system after seeing it used in the first few games of the season. They then discuss the Chicago Cubs giving Nico Hoerner a contract extension, the Los Angeles Dodgers revealing a new name for Dodger Stadium and the most popular jerseys sold in the offseason. The guys close the show by making their picks for a double-packed edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

1:13 - The Opener: Rookies rake on Opening Day
20:41 - We Need to Talk About: ABS debuts
32:07 - Around the League: Dodgers’ new name
37:52 - Cubs extend Nico Hoerner
41:19 - Starter draft update
46:39 - The Good, The Bad & The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:

🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social

🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ

📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq

⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz

🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_