Opening Day 2022: 5 things to know on MLB's first day of the season

Here's what you need to know on the first day of the US baseball season opener

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  Actor Billy Crystal shakes hands with New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka before throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the team's opening day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on April 8, 2022. AP

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  Yulia Holiyat, 11, of Brooklyn, sings the Ukrainian national anthem in honour of the country's struggle in their war with Russia before the New York Yankees opening day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox. AP

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  The Philadelphia Phillies take batting practice before their Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images / AFP

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  Baseball fans Tony and Pam Rinna are photographed before the start of the Tigers opening day baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Detroit, Michigan. AP

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  Boston Red Sox second baseman Jonathan Arauz practices before the start of the New York Yankees opening day baseball game. AP

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  Washington Nationals relief pitcher Victor Arano throws a pitch to the New York Mets during the fifth inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington. AP

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  The Anheuser Busch Clydesdales run on the track before the opening day game between the St Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

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  Members of the Washington Nationals wave as they stand on the first base line during pregame festivities in the opening day baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park in Washington. AP

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  The Kansas City Royals take batting practice before their opening day baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Kansas City, Missouri. AP

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  San Francisco Giants promotions for the upcoming season including bobbleheads of Marco Scutaro, Buster Posey and Hunter Pence. AP

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  New York Mets owner Steve Cohen attends a news conference at a Covid-19 vaccination site at Citi Field, the home of the Mets, in the Queens borough of New York. AP

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  A general view of the Atlanta Braves home ballpark in Cobb County, Georgia. EPA

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  The Phil Niekro statue outside the Atlanta Braves home ballpark in Cobb County, Georgia. EPA

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  The 2021 Opening Week logo. AFP

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  Atlanta Braves players celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros in game six of the Major League Baseball World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. EPA

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  Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker holds the Commissioner's Trophy during a celebration at Truist Park on November 5, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. EPA

Baseball fans congregated in ballparks all across the US on Thursday as Major League Baseball celebrated Opening Day of the league's season.

Over the course of 162 games, 30 MLB teams will jockey for playoff positions before competing for the World Series in November, which the Atlanta Braves won last year.

Atlanta Braves player celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros in game six of the Major League Baseball World Series to win the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. EPA

Here are five things to know for Opening Day 2022:

1. A delayed start to the season

This year's MLB season began a week later than scheduled after a 99-day lockout that began in December, MLB's first work stoppage since 1994-95. It was the second-longest lockout in the league's history and the first to compromise the season.

Major League Baseball's owners' and players' union fought over several issues in the collective bargaining agreement that eventually raised the minimum player salary to $700,000 per year and includes measures to curb anti-competitive behaviour.

Commissioner Rob Manfred had previously cancelled the first two weeks of games before a deal was reached on March 12

2. Muslim executive is making waves in the front office

Canadian-American executive Farhan Zaidi was voted 2021 MLB Executive of the Year after the San Francisco Giants won a franchise-record 107 games.

Mr Zaidi, born to Pakistani parents, is one of two Muslim executives in MLB and has been the Giants' President Of Baseball Operations since 2018.

Mr Zaidi, whom the Giants pried away from rivals Los Angeles Dodgers, made a series of moves ahead of July 2021's trade deadline that propelled the Giants into an unlikely 107-win season. It was the first time the team had a winning record since 2016.

3. Unvaccinated players can't play in Toronto

Players who do not have a Covid-19 vaccination won't be able to play road games against the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada's only MLB team. The Canadian government requires travellers to have received a second vaccination dose 14 days prior to entering the country.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo is unfazed by teams that could be impacted by the Canadian vaccine mandate.

"Rules are rules," he told reporters during spring training.

4. Shohei Ohtani looks for an encore

Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani is arguably MLB's most exciting player. The Los Angeles Angels is a superstar slugger and pitcher and was named the American League MVP after a historic season in which he hit 46 home runs as a designated hitter and struck out 156 batters as a pitcher.

Such is the uniqueness of Ohtani that MLB created a new rule to be implemented this season. Nicknamed the "Shohei Ohtani rule", a player can start a game as both pitcher and designated hitter and continue to bat after he is pulled from pitching duties.

The Angels named Ohtani as their Opening Day starter.

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani dives into first base to beat a throw to Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. World series favourites

The Dodgers are most experts' picks to win the 2022 World Series after signing long-time Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman in the offseason. The team already had a star-studded team with Mookie Betts and Trea Turner, but now have the most intimidating lineup in the entire league.

Other teams favoured to contend for the title include the Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox and defending World Series Champions Atlanta Braves.

No team has successfully defended a World Series title since 2000.