Opening Day is here, and as usual, everyone’s been wondering who will hit the season's first home run. Initially scheduled as the first game, the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers have been postponed to tomorrow, March 28, putting the Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles Angels game in the spotlight as the day's first matchup.

While the outlook for the 2024 Angels is not particularly positive following Shohei Ohtani's departure, the team still boasts arguably the league's best player, Mike Trout. A three-time MVP and a certain future Hall of Famer, Trout's consistent dominance and loyalty to the team that drafted him offers a glimmer of hope. Despite the team's weaknesses across various positions, both in pitching and hitting, Trout remains a reliable force, season after season.

Entering his age-32 season, Trout immediately showed that he's far from slowing down. In his very first at-bat of the 2024 season, on just the third pitch, he launched a towering 425 ft home run off the Orioles' new ace, Corbin Burnes. It was Trout’s fourth such Opening Day homer.

Over the following innings, the Orioles tallied five runs, while the rest of the Angels struggled to reach base, as Burnes found his rhythm again. This situation highlights a basic truth about baseball: having one of the game's best players doesn't guarantee victories. Despite Mike Trout's individual brilliance, baseball remains a team sport where success hinges on the collective performance, highlighting the Angels' challenges in turning star power into wins.

While this was just the first home run of many across the MLB this year, it is particularly satisfying to see one of the sport's most celebrated players lead the way. Trout consistently proves he deserves the acclaim he receives and more. Despite the Angels' immediate future appearing bleak, having a player like Trout to build around is undoubtedly a significant advantage.