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- ☀️Opening day 2024
☀️Opening day 2024
First no-hitter of the season, new ticketing experience, and more!
Grand Slam Newsletter
April 01, 2024
Today we cover:
☀️ Opening day 2024
🚫 First no-hitter of the season
🎟️ MLB experiments with new ticketing experience
⚾️ Yankees acquire Jake Cousins
And More!
Opening day 2024
Opening Day was a whirlwind of excitement across Major League Baseball. Here are some of the biggest takeaways:
Pitching Performances: Corbin Burnes dominated for the Orioles with 11 strikeouts, while Shane Bieber looked like his Cy Young-winning self for the Guardians. Young guns Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet impressed in a pitcher's duel for the Tigers and White Sox.
Home Run Highlights: Mike Trout started his season strong with a homer for the Angels, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a massive 450-ft blast for the Blue Jays. Tyler O'Neill continued his Opening Day tradition with his fifth consecutive leadoff homer. The Arizona Diamondbacks even had a record-setting 13-run inning against the Rockies.
Surprising Stars: Nick Martini had a two-homer performance for the Reds, while Oneil Cruz continued his power surge with a game-tying homer for the Pirates.
Team Stories: The Rangers showed off their clutch gene again with a walk-off win, while the Dodgers' star-studded lineup lived up to the hype. The Diamondbacks look like a force to be reckoned with in the NL West, and the Padres may have solved their struggles with runners in scoring position.
First no-hitter of the season
Houston Astro Ronel Blanco on Monday earned the first no-hitter of the 2024 season. It was only his eighth career start in the major leagues and likely wouldn’t have made it into the lineup if it wasn’t for injuries to Justin Verlander and José Urquidy. The 30 year-old Dominican retired 26 batters in a row and recording only two walks - both to George Springer, leading the Astros to a 10-0 win against the Blue Jays. Blanco's no-hitter almost didn't happen. In the ninth inning, a grounder was deflected by Blanco, but Mauricio Dubón threw out the runner at first base. This preserved the no-hitter and secured the win for the Astros. Blanco recorded the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and the first one since Framber Valdez on August 1, 2023.
Royce Lewis placed on leave for injuryRoyce Lewis, the #1 overall pick in 2017 and a bright spot for the Twins with a home run and single on Opening Day, is sidelined. He suffered a right quad strain while running the bases and has been placed on the injured list. This is unfortunately Lewis's fifth time on the IL due to injuries, including past ACL tears. Taking his roster spot is rookie Austin Martin, a former top draft pick acquired by the Twins in a trade. | Yankees acquire Jake CousinsThe Yankees acquired pitcher Jake Cousins from the White Sox for cash. Cousins, who struggled in 2023 but previously showed promise with the Brewers, impressed in spring training and could be called up to the Yankees bullpen if he performs well in the minors. |
MLB Testing new ticketing experience
Baseball is rolling out new tech that lets fans enter stadiums using facial recognition instead of tickets. This is seen as a big improvement by some and a privacy nightmare by others.
Pros (Fan Convenience):
Faster entry: No waiting in lines to show tickets or go through security.
Easier experience: Fans don't need to fumble for tickets or phones.
Streamlined experience: Similar to using facial recognition at airports.
Cons (Privacy Concerns):
Facial recognition tech is controversial due to potential misuse by businesses, governments, and law enforcement.
Privacy advocates worry about the spread of this technology and its long-term impact on society.
Some fans feel uncomfortable with the idea of their face being stored in a database.
While MLB sees this as a way to improve the fan experience, privacy groups are protesting the use of this technology. This is likely to be a debated topic throughout the season.
