KJFM NEWS — The day is finally upon us, it’s time to for the regular season of Major League Baseball to begin. After a thrilling 2022 season and an exciting offseason, teams all around the league have seen old faces walk away, and have seen new faces enter the clubhouse. MLB legends have retired, and future stars have made their names known. It’s sure to be another exhilarating season in the world of Major League Baseball.

With MLB legends, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina retiring, some new faces in the league are looking to become that next legend that everyone remembers. 2022 American League Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby runner up, Julio Rodriguez from the Seattle Mariners, is looking to become that next big star among the names of Trout, Ohtani, Judge, Arenado, and Betts. Michael Harris the Second is looking to become the next star outfielder for the Atlanta Braves. Harris took home National League Rookie of the Year honors last season, and he looks to become the next star beside Ronald Acuna Jr roaming the Braves potent outfield. Adley Rutschman has become the face of the Baltimore Orioles after a stellar 2022 campaign. The young catcher out of Oregon State University has proven why he belongs among baseball’s best players. The Braves are loaded with young talent, as their pitching staff contains one of the best young pitchers in the league, Spencer Strider. If you don’t know who this mustached man is, you will by the end of the 2023 season. Strider had a great 2022, where he helped the Braves reached the playoffs after they had won the title in 2021. There are lots of young stars to look out for this season.

As we welcome in the new future stars of the MLB, we say goodbye to the old faces of the league. Tigers’ designated hitter, Miguel Cabrera, has stated that 2023 will be his final season in Major League Baseball. The slugger has had an amazing career, Cabrera won the Triple Crown award in 2012, as he had a 330 batting average along with 44 home runs and 139 RBIS. He won the MVP award in 2012, as well as 2013. Cabrera won the 2003 World Series with the Marlins, that being his only World Series win. Miggy heads into the 2023 season with a career 308 batting average, 507 home runs, 3088 career hits, and 1847 RBIS.

The Opening Day schedules have been released. The Cardinals will face the Toronto Blue Jays in St. Louis. The Yankees will face the Giants in New York. The Braves take on the Nationals in Washington DC. The defending World Series champion Astros play the Chicago White Sox in Houston. My favorite team, the Texas Rangers, will face the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies in Arlington. The Orioles will play the Red Sox at Fenway. The Cubs begin their season in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field against the Brewers. Miggy begins his retirement tour, as the Tigers take on the Rays in Tampa Bay. The young Reds face the young Pirates in Cincinnati. The other Missouri team, the Royals, will welcome in the Minnesota Twins. The Mets begin their first season without Jacob deGrom, as they take on the Marlins in Miami. Trout and the Angels play, more than likely the worst team in the league, the Oakland Athletics in the Colosseum. The Padres look to get back to the National League championship series, as they take on the Rockies in the Colorado mountains. Dodger blue will face Diamondback red in Los Angeles. Finally, the Guardians from Cleveland will face Mariners from Seattle.

The Cardinals are looking to win their second straight National League Central Division title. After bringing in star Third Baseman, Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals went 93-69 and lost in the NL Wild Card round to the Phillies. St. Louis looks for Adam Wainwright to be the ace of the pitching staff, and Ryan Helsley to be the team’s closer. They were able to steal Catcher Wilson Contreras from the rival Cubs in free agency. With the new additions to the team, and the rest of the teams in their division losing some of their essential players, I believe that the Cardinals will win the Central division again and make the playoffs.

The Rangers are coming off a sad 2022 season. Texas went 68-94 and were unable to make the playoffs. The Rangers do play in a tough American League West division, which includes the defending champion Astros, and a playoff contender in the Mariners. The team from Arlington did add one of the best pitchers in the MLB in deGrom from the Mets. The Rangers also welcome back star players like Shortstop Corey Seager, Second Baseman Marcus Semien, and Outfielder Adolis Garcia. deGrom will be backed in the rotation by 2022 all-star Martin Perez, as well as Jon Gray and Nathan Eovaldi. Texas is shaping up to being a sneaky team in 2023. It would not surprise me if the Rangers are able to compete for a playoff spot this season.

The 2023 MLB season is looking like it will be one of the whackiest and wildest seasons yet. New faces in new places, old teammates being reunited, teams getting worse and teams getting better. But they all have the same goal, make the playoffs and bring home a World Series title.