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Your mind isn’t blown and yet if you were forced to answer the question of “which New York Mets player started where in this year on Opening Day” you might have forgotten a couple of names. Sure, you definitely remember when Tylor Megill got the start on the mound in 2023. You even recall how J.D. Davis hadn’t been completely given up on when he was the DH to open the 2022 season.
From each of the last five Mets Openings Days, there are a few players whose presence in game one is more easily forgotten. Here’s one from each year.
Forgotten Mets Opening Day starters from each of the last five years
2021 - Kevin Pillar, CF
You know Kevin Pillar was on the Mets in 2021. Do you recall him in center field in 2021? It was a weird time for the Mets. Brandon Nimmo was in left field to open the year and would start more games in center field than anyone else with 84. The Mets chose to hold Dominic Smith out of the Opening Day lineup in favor of Pillar in center field and Nimmo in left field, preferring defense.
2022 - Robinson Cano, 2B
An unforgettable Mets player for mostly all of the wrong reasons, Robinson Cano played only 12 games for the 2022 Mets including the start at second base to begin the year. He was suspended all of 2021 and gone before we knew it.
2023 - Omar Narvaez, C
Before Francisco Alvarez was the starter, the Mets were trying to squeeze some time out of Omar Narvaez behind the plate. He started on Opening Day. He played 5 games, hit the IL, and we didn’t see him again until June. When he did come back, the catcher spot essentially belonged to Alvarez with Narvaez lingering around excited to opt into his contract for 2024.
2024 - DJ Stewart, DH
What became of the 2024 Mets wasn’t how they started. Jose Quintana got the nod to begin the season even though it’s more of a year where we remember Sean Manaea and Luis Severino as the more consistent pitchers. At DH in game one was DJ Stewart. J.D. Martinez signed late in the spring which had his Mets debut delayed. In the interim, they went with Stewart who was useful throughout the year but not spectacular.
2025 - Luisangel Acuna, 2B
Only a year ago, Luisangel Acuna got the start at second base for the Mets on Opening Day. Jeff McNeil’s short injury to begin the season had the Mets dipping into their depth to hand out a starting job to a guy who barely made the team. Acuna did play well, earning NL Rookie of the Month honors in April. It was the reduced playing time that saw his season totals completely drop.