O'Neill's Opening Day home run streak ends at 6

Slugger goes 1-for-2 with a single and a walk in Orioles' season-opening win

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:04am

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Tyler O'Neill's record-setting streak of hitting a home run on Opening Day ended at 6 games, as the 30-year-old outfielder went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk in the Orioles' 2-1 win over the Twins on Thursday. O'Neill, who signed a 3-year, $49.5 million deal with Baltimore prior to the 2025 season, had homered in 6 straight season openers, tying a mark shared by Todd Hundley, Gary Carter, and Yogi Berra.

Why it matters

O'Neill's Opening Day home run streak had become one of the most reliable and anticipated events in baseball over the past decade. While the streak had to end eventually, it marks the end of an era for the Canadian slugger, who is looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued 2025 season with the Orioles.

The details

O'Neill went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk in the Orioles' season-opening win over the Twins. He drew a 9-pitch walk in the 2nd inning and singled in the 7th, helping set up a pair of runs for Baltimore. Despite not hitting a home run, O'Neill was pleased with his performance and the team's victory.

  • On Thursday, O'Neill's AL/NL record streak of 6 consecutive Opening Days with a homer ended.
  • O'Neill homered on 4 straight Opening Days with St. Louis from 2020-23, matching a record shared by Todd Hundley, Gary Carter, and Yogi Berra.
  • O'Neill broke the record in '24, going deep in his lone opener with Boston.

The players

Tyler O'Neill

A 30-year-old outfielder who signed a 3-year, $49.5 million deal with the Orioles prior to the 2025 season.

Todd Hundley

A former MLB catcher who hit home runs on Opening Day in 4 straight seasons from 1994-1997, tying a record.

Gary Carter

A Hall of Fame MLB catcher who hit home runs on Opening Day in 4 straight seasons from 1977-1980, tying a record.

Yogi Berra

A Hall of Fame MLB catcher who hit home runs on Opening Day in 4 straight seasons from 1955-1958, tying a record.

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What they’re saying

“Pressure's off, obviously. I don't really have to prove anything in that regard. Yeah, it's on my mind. Would it be great to push it to seven? Yeah. Of course, it would be. And if I get the opportunity to do that, great. But if not, no big deal.”

— Tyler O'Neill

“It was a good win, man. Fans were bringing it. A lot of energy out there. Opening Day at Camden is so special. Just want to come out and put on a good performance, and the team did a really good job.”

— Tyler O'Neill

The takeaway

While O'Neill's record-setting Opening Day home run streak has come to an end, the slugger's focus is on helping the Orioles bounce back in 2026 after a disappointing 2025 season. His strong start at the plate and the team's victory are encouraging signs for O'Neill and Baltimore as they look to compete in the AL East.