Opening Day 2022 is in the books. Across two days we saw four walk-off wins, tied for the most walk-off wins on Opening Day in MLB history. The last time we had four walk-off wins on Opening Day was way back in … 2021. Just last year. Maybe we’ll get five walk-offs next Opening Day. Would be cool.
In the service of maximum Opening Day enjoyment, we’re here to rank this year’s four Opening Day walk-offs. These highly unscientific rankings are based on many things, including the coolness and improbability of the final play. Come with me, won’t you?
4. Josh Donaldson, Yankees vs. Red Sox
A big name player with his new team against a historic rival, sure, but this was an objectively lame walk-off. The runner at second base was the automatic runner in the 11th inning, the Red Sox were so deep into their bullpen that the pitcher (Kutter Crawford) was making his second MLB appearance, and the hit was a little ground ball single with eyes.
I am willing to listen to arguments that Nos. 1-3 on this list should be in a different order. I am not willing to listen to any argument that one of the other three walk-offs should really be ranked No. 4. This walk-off was fine. If it happened in the middle of June rather than Opening Day, you’d forget it happened by next weekend. Onward.
3. Austin Slater, Giants vs. Marlins
This walk-off was in extra innings as well, though the winning run was not the automatic runner. Mauricio Dubón got caught wandering too far off second base on Brandon Belt’s fly ball earlier in the 10th inning, leading to your classic 9-6-4 double play. With two outs Darin Ruf drew a walk, then Slater yanked a double to left field. Ruf scored all the way from first base:
Bonus points for big Darin Ruf huffing and puffing his way around the bases, and my goodness, what a call by Duane Kuiper. Few broadcasters bring the sport to life like Kuiper and he always nails a big play. This was no different. Eventful inning, great call. Just an all-around excellent walk-off experience.
2. Seth Beer, Diamondbacks vs. Padres
My favorite walk-offs are walk-offs when the team is trailing, and we had only one of those this Opening Day. Beer provided it against veteran Padres reliever Craig Stammen. Arizona was no-hit through six innings and they trailed 2-0 heading into the ninth. Then Robert Suarez walked two and hit a batter, and Beer turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win with one swing:
Fun fact: April 7 is National Beer Day. Seth Beer hitting a walk-off home run on National Beer Day? It would make for a cheesy plot in a baseball fanfic series. This is the real world though. It happened. The baseball gods are cool like that.
1. Javier Báez, Tigers vs. White Sox
This game was incredible — five runs were scored in the last three half-innings after four runs were scored in the first 15 half-innings — and the walk-off was one of the most memorable plays in recent memory. It also featured Detroit’s two big additions on offense: Báez and Austin Meadows. Always fun when the new guys lead you to a win on Opening Day.
Eric Haase tied the game with a ninth inning solo homer against Liam Hendriks. Two batters later, Meadows tripled into the right-center field gap at spacious Comerica Park, and triples rule. Meadows tripled with two outs, so a sacrifice fly wasn’t going to work. Báez needed a hit to win the game. A hit or, well, this:
The ball hit the wall and then bounced in and out (and back in) AJ Pollock’s glove in right field. Maybe a ball that should have been caught? Or at least Pollock should have gloved it before it hit the wall? Either way, I’m glad he didn’t. Fun and unconventional walk-offs are the most memorable wins. Throw in Opening Day and we’ll be talking about this game all season.
“I thought it hit the glove and then the wall,” Báez told MLB.com’s Jason Beck after the game. “I knew it hit the wall, but just didn’t know if it was the wall first.”
