It's hard to imagine a young player making a bigger impression in the very first inning of a team's home opener

First, Mookie Betts made a leaping highlight-reel catch robbing Bryce Harper of a home run in the top of the first.

Then he led off in the bottom of the first and walked. He stole second base, popped right up with the second baseman still holding the ball not six inches away -- and tore off to third base, stealing third as well. He knew that with David Ortiz at the plate and a heavy Ortiz shift on, there was nobody at third base. He saw no one was covering the bag and he made it safely.  He soon scored the first run of the game.

As it happened,  he came up again in the second inning, with two runners on base. I said to the guy next to me, "All he needs to do now is hit a home run...."  And, BOOM!, home run - a no-doubter that would be a home run in any park, high up in the Monster Seats.