MLB Rookies Carson Benge, Kevin McGonigle, More Make History with Opening Day Stats

Thursday was an Opening Day to remember for a handful of Major League Baseball rookies making their debuts.

Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle wasted no time making a first impression by going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in an 8-2 victory over the San Diego Padres. That made him the sixth player since 1900 to post four hits in his debut:

He was far from the only one who turned heads.

New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge, Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt all launched home runs in their own debuts.

That marked the most players to homer in their debuts during a single Opening Day since at least 1900:

Benge helped lead the Mets to an 11-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. New York chased Paul Skenes from the game after just 0.2 innings, although the rookie's home run came against the bullpen.

Wetherholt also enjoyed a victory, as St. Louis defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-7 in part because of his home run and two RBI.

Murakami was the rookie who fell short in a 14-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, but at least he provided the White Sox with a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing showing. Chicago has lost more than 100 games in each of the last three seasons and didn't look promising again Thursday.

At least it has a powerful rookie to take some solace in moving forward.