Paul Goldschmidt owns Opening Day. No exaggeration.
If you dig into the last five years, there’s a strong case to be made that the Yankees’ new first baseman is the best Opening Day hitter of the current decade.
And the numbers? They’re ridiculous.
Since 2020, Goldschmidt is batting .706 (12-for-17) on Opening Day. That’s not a typo. He’s also chipped in three doubles, a home run (hit last season), five walks, just two strikeouts, and a jaw-dropping .773 on-base percentage over 22 plate appearances.
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With Giancarlo Stanton out indefinitely — tendonitis in both elbows — the Yankees are going to need Goldschmidt to be that guy. The one with seven All-Star nods, five Silver Slugger Awards, and an NL MVP trophy on his shelf.
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
He missed a chunk of spring with a sore back, but returned to the lineup over the weekend and looks ready to go for Thursday’s opener.
And Goldschmidt won’t be the only big bat getting attention. Aaron Judge has had his own share of Opening Day success, hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three doubles and a homer in his last five openers. The only knock? Eight strikeouts and just one walk in those games.
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Cody Bellinger is the only other player in Thursday’s projected lineup with five or more Opening Day starts. He’s struggled lately, going just 1-for-11 in his last three and carrying a .211 average overall in openers.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be making his fifth Opening Day start and enters with a solid .438 OBP in 17 plate appearances. Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera each have two starts under their belts — Volpe is 1-for-4 with four walks (.556 OBP), while Cabrera has gone 2-for-8 with a homer and five Ks.
As for Austin Wells, Jasson Domínguez, and Ben Rice — this will be the first time any of them crack an Opening Day lineup.
Related: Breaking Down the Yankees’ 2025 Opening Day Lineup Around Aaron Judge
Related: Yankees Announce Injury News and Roster Moves Before 2025 Opener
