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Opening Day in MLB: New No. 21 patches, and Guardians

Opening

A little later on opening day, Nico Hoerner hit the first home run of 2022. He connected off a pitcher who used an electronic wristband to receive his signals from the catcher. Out near Disneyland, where temperatures neared 100 degrees, AL MVP Shohei Ohtani flashed his 100-mph heat and took his swings for the Los Angeles Angels. As reported by the AP:

In a historic moment for American sports this season, the Cleveland Guardians took the field for the first time

Andrew McCutchen got the first hit of the year, up against the still-dormant ivy at Wrigley Field. He delivered as a National League designated hitter. Wearing a Roberto Clemente No. 21 patch, too.

Ukrainian flags are seen outside Wrigley Field as fans arrive for the Chicago Cubs home-opener baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

A little later on opening day, Nico Hoerner hit the first home run of 2022. He connected off a pitcher who used an electronic wristband to receive his signals from the catcher.

Soon after that, in another yard, the Cleveland Guardians took the field for the first time.

New season, and definitely a new look all across Major League Baseball.

And if the weather wasn’t quite summer-like in some spots Thursday, well, who cares?

A member of the grounds crew prepares home plate before the Chicago Cubs home-opener baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

“It might be cold; it might be windy. But it’s opening day,” Cardinals fan Mary Welsh of Belleville, Illinois, said at Busch Stadium before St. Louis hosted Pittsburgh.

Out near Disneyland, where temperatures neared 100 degrees, AL MVP Shohei Ohtani flashed his 100-mph heat on Opening Day and took his swings for the Los Angeles Angels.

Late night in Phoenix, after Padres starter Yu Darvish threw six no-hit innings, rookie Seth Beer cracked a three-run homer in the ninth to give Arizona a comeback win on National Beer Day in the United States.

No joke.

Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez, left, and Whit Merrifield chat during batting practice before the start of their baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, April 7, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

In Atlanta, the Braves celebrated their World Series championship with a pregame parade. At every ballpark, umpires started to get their say — this year, they’ve joined referees from other sports in announcing replay review decisions to the crowd.

As seats filled up in rainy Washington, chilly Kansas City and more, it seemed fans decided the 99-day owners’ lockout that delayed spring training and pushed back opening day by a week wouldn’t deter them from coming back.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright pauses between batters while wearing No. 21 on his cap during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 7, 2022, in St. Louis. Winners of the Roberto Clemente Award, like Wainwright, will wear his No. 21 on back of their caps for the rest of their major league careers. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Wearing an Ernie Banks jersey, 23-year-old Philip Lijewski from Guthrie, Oklahoma, enjoyed the view at Wrigley as the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers loosened up. He said the anger and acrimony over the labor strife didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the game.

“Not really,” Lijewski said. “I’m glad that they came to a conclusion sooner rather than later. I was bummed that we didn’t get to do it April 4. But it’s April 7, so not too many days after.”

More than eight months after announcing a new change, Cleveland played its first regular-season game as the Guardians. Known as the Indians since 1915, the club made the switch in the interest of social justice.

Atlanta Braves’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos, right, and Atlanta Braves’ manager Brian Snitker, left, arrive for a parade before the Braves baseball season home opener baseball game Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Cleveland wore its road uniforms for the game in Kansas City, with the city name on the jersey.

“Supporting the city is what it comes down to,” star pitcher Shane Bieber said a day before the opener. “Going out there with my teammates, doing it the right way is really all we can do. It was a little bit different getting used to the change, but I’d say we’re all getting used to it day by day.”

Plenty of stars from other sports were at Kauffman Stadium to see top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals beat the Guardians 3-1. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid and several of his players were in attendance, as were members of the Kansas basketball team, which rallied past North Carolina in the men’s NCAA championship game Monday night in New Orleans.

FILE – Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates is seen in Tampa, Fla., March 3, 1963. Winners of the Roberto Clemente Award will wear his No. 21 on back of their caps for the rest of their major league careers. Major League Baseball made the announcement Thursday, April 7, 2022, saying it was a “special tribute to his enduring legacy.” (AP Photo/Preston Stroup, File)

A strong wind made it seem much colder than the game-time temperature of 47 degrees, and intermittent drizzle turned to streaking pellets of ice during the national anthem.

After earlier rainouts at Yankee Stadium and Target Field, the Brewers-Cubs game became the first one of the season.

It was a raw 44 degrees when Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks threw the first pitch, which Kolten Wong lofted for a wind-blown popout.

Budweiser Clydesdales make their way around Busch Stadium as part of the opening day festivities before the start of a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, April 7, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

McCutchen sliced a double in the second inning for the season’s first hit, then singled and scored in the fourth for the first run. The 2013 NL MVP, the 35-year-old McCutchen was Milwaukee’s designated hitter.

As part of the MLB labor deal, the National League has now permanently adopted the designated hitter — the American League began using it in 1973, and the NL added it for the pandemic-shortened 2020 season before going back to letting pitchers hit last year.

Before the Cubs batted in the bottom of the third, the videoboard in left field showed a clip dedicated to pitchers hitting with Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You” serving as the soundtrack.

“Thank you, pitchers. See you in a pinch,” it said at the end.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, April 7, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

McCutchen is among several active Roberto Clemente Award winners who will wear No. 21 — the number worn by the late Pirates Hall of Famer — on the backs of their hats and helmets for the rest of their careers.

MLB said it was a “special tribute to his enduring legacy.” The announcement was timed for the 50th anniversary of the year in which Clemente, the Pittsburgh great from Puerto Rico, died in a plane crash while on a humanitarian relief effort.

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani grounds out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

“It’s a privilege. An honor,” said Nationals slugger Nelson Cruz, the most recipient of the Clemente award. “He means so much for baseball, in general. He was an example to follow – how to be professional, on and off the field. A remarkable player and a remarkable human being who lost his life trying to help others.”

“He paid the ultimate price, and whatever we do is not enough,” he said.

Milwaukee Brewers’ Andrew McCutchen smiles after scoring against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Hoerner launched the first homer, a two-run drive for the Cubs off NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes. Brewers catcher Omar Narváez and Burnes used the newly approved electronic pitch calling system — Narváez could push a button on his wristband to signal what he wanted thrown, without fear of wiggling his fingers and having the sign stolen.

Not that Hoerner needed any help, apparently.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright pauses between batters while wearing No. 21 on his cap during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 7, 2022, in St. Louis. Winners of the Roberto Clemente Award, like Wainwright, will wear his No. 21 on back of their caps for the rest of their major league careers. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

“Who had Nico in the first homer pool?” Cubs manager David Ross kidded after the 5-4 win.

In St. Louis, Tommy Edman’s drive became the first play that resulted in an umpire announcing the result of a replay check.

“After review, the call is confirmed. Home run,” crew chief Jim Reynolds succinctly told the gleeful Cardinals crowd.

By BEN WALKER Baseball Writer

Baseball Writer Jay Cohen, AP Sports Writers Tom Withers and Dave Skretta and AP freelance writer Steve Overbey contributed to this report.

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