Giants' Barry Bonds curse ends: Heliot Ramos becomes franchise's first repeat Opening Day LF since 2007

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Heliot Ramos is doing something no Giant has done since Barry Bonds. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)ASSOCIATED PRESS

MLB’s Opening Night features the New York Yankees, the San Francisco Giants and the end of one of baseballl's more curious streaks.

For the first time since 2007, the Giants placed the same left fielder in their lineup as last year’s Opening Day. That player is Heliot Ramos.

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The streak goes back to Barry Bonds’ final season with the Giants. Following that season, MLB’s tainted all-time home run leader hit free agency and somehow couldn’t find a team despite having just hit 276/.480/.565 with 28 homers and an MLB-leading 132 walks. Even the Giants didn’t bring him back, and they were rewarded with nearly two decades of instability at the position.

Hence why we could also call this the Curse of Barry Bonds.

Here’s the full group and what happened to them before the next Opening Day:

  • 2007: Barry Bonds (left in free agency, never played in MLB again)

  • 2008: Dave Roberts (retired the next year)

  • 2009: Fred Lewis (traded next offseason)

  • 2010: Mark DeRosa (benched next year)

  • 2011: Pat Burrell (retired the next year)

  • 2012: Aubrey Huff (option declined, never played in MLB again)

  • 2013: Andrés Torres (left in free agency, never played in MLB again)

  • 2014: Michael Morse (left in free agency)

  • 2015: Nori Aoki (option declined, left in free agency)

  • 2016: Ángel Pagán (left in free agency, never played in MLB again)

  • 2017: Jarrett Parker (released next year)

  • 2018: Hunter Pence (left in free agency)

  • 2019: Connor Joe (DFA'd eight games later)

  • 2020: Alex Dickerson (didn't start Opening Day next season)

  • 2021: Austin Slater (didn't start Opening Day next season)

  • 2022: Joc Pederson (left in free agency)

  • 2023: Blake Sabol (traded to Red Sox)

  • 2024: Heliot Ramos

  • 2025: Heliot Ramos!

The 19-year streak of different Opening Day left-fielders was tied for the longest in MLB history among all positions. The St. Louis Browns also had 19 straight different left fielders from 1937 to 1955, via Elias Sports Bureau.

With the Giants’ run over, the new longest active streak belongs to the Cleveland Guardians at right field. Their 15-year streak is already guaranteed to extend into 2026, as 2025 Opening Day right-fielder Jhonkensy Noel was designated for assignment last December.

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