Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run homer in the third inning on Thursday to extend his major league record of homering on Opening Day to six in a row.
O’Neill’s blast to right field came against right-hander Jose Berrios of the Toronto Blue Jays and gave Baltimore a 5-0 lead. O’Neill finished 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBIs and two walks in the 12-2 victory in Toronto.
A native of Burnaby, Canada, O’Neill had several family members in the crowd.
“Very special,” said O’Neill, 29. “I’ve had a great day so far. Playing in Toronto is always special for me.”
O’Neill’s streak began in 2020 with St. Louis, the first of four straight Opening Day blasts with the Cardinals. Last season, he homered for the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day.
Last season’s homer allowed O’Neill to surpass the previous record of four straight Opening Day homers, shared by Yogi Berra (1955-58), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Todd Hundley (1994-97).
“I mean, it’s fun, right? It’s a good time, and it’s a fun streak, but I don’t really think too much of it anyway,” O’Neill said. “I already had the record last year, so today was just a little cherry on top.”
–Field Level Media