4/19 BOS: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 1 K (GF)

3/20 SD: 0-3

So highly thought of as a hitter that the Padres made Merrill their Opening Day CF for the Korea Series with 0 innings of pro experience at the position.

3/20: .2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 1 K (H)

Matsui, a star closer in the NPB, signed with the Padres as part of their offseason bullpen revamp. Unshockingly, he recorded a hold in his debut.

3/20 SD: 0-1

Close observers of the Padres system in 2023 likely weren't surprised that Pauley cracked San Diego's Opening Day roster after parts of two seasons spent tearing through the club's farm levels.

3/21 LAD: 1 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 HPB, 1 WP, 5 ER, 2 K (L)

So heralded was Yamamoto that he shattered the record contract guarantee for an international free agent when signing with the Dodgers. Yamamoto's 1.16 ERA in 2023 was ranked by Baseball Reference as the lowest in the world.

3/21 SD: .2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 ER, 0 K (H)

3/28 TEX: 1-3, BB, SF, RBI

Langford, a 1st rounder just last year, made the Rangers Opening Day roster after a monster 2023 season that saw him slash .360/.480/.677 at 4 farm levels and an equally dominant Spring. He hit safely in his first 5 contests in the Majors.

3/28 DET: 1-4

3/28 OAK: 0-1

3/28 ARI: 2-5, RBI

Blaze is the given first name of this former IMG standout stolen on the 11th round of the 2018 draft by the Diamondbacks, and starting in 2022, that's what he did to Minors pitching. This dominant run translated to the Majors, where Alexander has played his way into the Diamondbacks starting lineup after a hot start of two multi-hit games in his first three contests, and a home run in his fourth.