Astros World Series MVP George Springer hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day for the second straight season. He’s the only player to ever do that.
ARLINGTON, Texas — A long offseason and six weeks of spring training haven’t done anything to cool off Houston Astros outfielder George Springer.
Springer, who set World Series records with eight extra-base hits and 29 total bases in Houston’s seven-game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, drove the third pitch from Texas starter Cole Hamels over the right-field fence to give the Astros a 1-0 lead over the Rangers in the teams’ season opener at Globe Life Park on Thursday.
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In his first at-bat for the Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton crushed an offering from Blue Jays starter J. A. Happ for a 426-foot home run to right field.
Cubs leadoff man Ian Happ hit a home run on the first pitch that came his way, off the Miami Marlins’ Jose Urena.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first leadoff home run for a defending World Series champion. Springer also is the only player ever to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day in consecutive years.
Last year, Springer homered off Felix Hernandez in the first inning of the Astros’ season-opening 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park.
On Thursday, Springer worked the count to 2-0 against Hamels before hitting a 90 mph two-seam fastball the opposite way and over the wall for his 100th career home run.
In late October and early November, Springer went 11-for-29 with five home runs and a .379/.471/1.000 slash line to lead the Astros over the Dodgers and win the World Series MVP award.
