MLB Opening Weekend

Off the field: The biggest news came on Friday when, in response to Georgia passing legislation restricting voting rights, the league made the surprising (but very refreshing!) decision to move the All-Star game out of Atlanta. The new location is still TBD, but the decision came as the MLB (and the Masters…) felt mounting pressure to take a stand.

• Considering the MLB has historically been quiet when it comes to social justice — the league took nine days to respond in the wake of George Floyd’s murder last summer — this move is a more than a welcome change.

On the field: Although we’re less than a week into the season, we already have our winning comeback story of the year. After being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer last March, Baltimore Oriole Trey Mancini returned to the field this weekend, over five months cancer free.

• There were no Opening Day jitters for Chicago White Sox rookie Yermín Mercedes, who had eight hits in his first eight at-bats, the most consecutive hits to start a season by any player since 1900.

And Detroit Tigers rookie Akil Baddoo also wasted no time getting acclimated to the big leagues, blasting a homerun on the first MLB pitch he faced, capping it off with a bat flip to boot. The kids are clearly alright.