Player of the Series: Kameron Misner

The rookie made history on Opening Day

The first series of the year is in the books and it was certainly a memorable Opening Weekend for the Tampa Bay Rays. They played the first ever Major League games in Tampa. There was a flyover and fireworks (although the team did try to have fireworks at the Trop before, it didn’t go well). And there was also a walk-off.

Enter 27-year old Kameron Misner.

The Rays originally acquired Misner in November, 2021 from the Miami Marlins for infielder Joey Wendle. Known primarily for defense, Misner quietly made his way through the Rays system without much fanfare despite solid seasons in each year he spent within the organization.

Misner made his big league debut in 2024 and collected a single in 15 trips to the plate.

The outfielder was a last minute addition to the Rays Opening Day roster after Richie Palacios was placed on the Injured List with a fractured finger. Misner entered the game on Opening Day as a defensive replacement but was the first player to hit in the bottom of the 9th of a tied game. Misner took the first pitch he seen and drilled a linedrive into the right field seats to become the first player to have their first career homerun be a walk-off on Opening Day.

Misner appeared in all three games of the series and collected three hits in seven trips to the plate, also striking out three times.

The Rays took two of three from the Colorado Rockies and are currently in second place in the division, one game back of the New York Yankees.

Next, the Rays will welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Steinbrenner Field for a three game set.