Opening Day in the Bronx brought sunshine, seven hits, and a few loud cracks of the bat. The New York Yankees kicked off the 2025 season with a crisp 4–2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, powered by early homers, a sturdy outing from Carlos Rodón, and a bullpen that mostly slammed the door.
Carlos Rodón Sets the Tone
The Yankees were missing their ace Gerrit Cole, who is sidelined for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the pressure was on Carlos Rodón to step up—and he did just that. The left-hander tossed 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on four hits, walking two, and striking out seven. His only blemish came in the third inning when Vinny Capra caught a high fastball and sent it out for a solo homer. Other than that, Rodón was sharp, mixing in his fastball and slider to keep the Brewers guessing. Rodón left with a one-run lead, and the bullpen made sure it stuck.
Bullpen Slams the Door
Tim Hill entered in the sixth to escape a jam, logging 0.2 scoreless frames. Mark Leiter Jr. and Luke Weaver followed, each tossing a clean inning and striking out a pair. Then it was time for the Yankees’ prized bullpen addition, Devin Williams, to get the final three outs. The Airbender struggled, loading the bases with no outs before getting Bryce Turang to hit a sac fly. He managed two strikeouts to finish the Brewers off. It was a concerning debut, but it’s not a surprise Williams struggled off the bat, having been used seldomly this spring.
Austin Wells Starts the Season With a Bang
What better way to start a season than with a leadoff home run? Catcher Austin Wells, making history as the first backstop to lead off for the Yankees on Opening Day, wasted no time. On the very first pitch he saw, he sent a laser over the short porch in right field, giving the Yankees a quick 1–0 lead. Wells finished 1-for-3 with a walk but made that one hit count in a big way.
Power and Patience at the Plate
Anthony Volpe added to the lead with a wind-assisted solo shot in the second inning, a 373-foot fly that found just enough help to clear the wall. Volpe’s added muscle over the offseason was on display and it’s a promising sign for a player looking to take that next step offensively. Aaron Judge struck out twice but delivered a clutch RBI double in the seventh inning, lacing a ball to left field to extend the lead. Right after, Cody Bellinger tacked on a sac fly to bring Judge home, making it 4–1. Ben Rice also flashed his power with a single off the right field wall (reached 2nd on an error) and reached base with a walk, showing the kind of patience and hard contact that earned him the DH job while Giancarlo Stanton remains sidelined.
Jazz Chisholm Still Searching
Jazz Chisholm had a rough go in his Yankees debut, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk. Brewers starter Freddy Peralta fooled him a few times with a devastating changeup, and it’s clear the timing still needs a bit of fine-tuning. Chisholm’s upside remains enormous, but like a lot late March swings, the barrel just hasn’t found the ball yet.
The Yankees are back at it on Saturday with a chance to keep the momentum rolling. One game in, and it’s already clear this squad has the pieces to make some serious noise—especially if the pitching holds steady and the power continues to show up.
In a thrilling atmosphere, the Yankees celebrated their Opening Day victory in front of a sellout crowd of 46,208 fans who spent most of the afternoon cheering, even as the tension rose in the final inning. The road to redemption began in The Bronx on this encouraging day for the Yankees.
Devin Williams, the new closer acquired from Milwaukee, faced a tense moment in the ninth. After loading the bases with no outs, he allowed a sacrifice fly to Brice Turang, making the score 4-2. However, Williams displayed his resilience by striking out both Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich to secure the save.
Williams’ debut was a rollercoaster; he threw 36 pitches and faced boos from the crowd as he struggled early on. However, he managed to maintain his composure and finish the game strong. The Yankees traded starting pitcher Nestor Cortés, infield prospect Caleb Durbin, and cash considerations for Williams in December, and fans will be hoping to see more of his dominant form as the season progresses.
Austin Wells’ historic leadoff home run not only marked the first of the season but also made him the first catcher in MLB history to achieve this feat on Opening Day. His performance, alongside Volpe’s and Judge’s contributions, set a positive tone for the Yankees as they look to build on this victory.
The Yankees had not had a catcher hit leadoff in 19,451 games, making Wells' achievement even more significant. The team’s lineup included just four starters from the World Series Game 5, reflecting the changes and adjustments made during the offseason.
As the Yankees prepare for their next game, the excitement is palpable. With Rodón leading the way on the mound and a lineup full of potential, fans are eager to see how this season unfolds. The Yankees have the pieces in place to make a serious run, and if Opening Day is any indication, they’re ready to make some noise in the league.
The season-opening series between the Yankees and Brewers is set to continue at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, and all eyes will be on the Bronx as the Yankees aim to keep their winning streak alive.
