SAN FRANCISCO — When the starting lineups are introduced Wednesday evening at Oracle Park, Heliot Ramos’ name will be announced as the Giants’ starter in left field. Just like he was in 2025.
And with that, the streak is over.
Ramos is the first Giants left fielder to make consecutive Opening Day starts at the position since Barry Bonds retired in 2007. The club rotated through different players for the past 19 seasons in what had grown into one of the most infamous and unlikely streaks in the sport.
“I don’t know that I’m going to break any of Barry’s records,” Ramos told The California Post with a humble chuckle. “But it’s something that I feel very proud of, something that obviously I’ve been working my whole life for. Not just the streak but just being a consistent big leaguer.”
First-year manager Tony Vitello previewed the news Tuesday and made it official when he filled in the first lineup card of his career for the Giants’ season opener Wednesday against the Yankees.
The move prevented the Giants from making ignominious history: One more year and they would have topped the Orioles for the longest such streak at any position. Baltimore’s streak, also in left field, ran for 19 years from 1937-55, beginning when the franchise was known as the Browns.
The longest active streak now resides in Cleveland, where the Guardians will roll out their 15th different right fielder since 2012 when they begin the season Thursday against the Mariners.
With Bonds set to return to the public eye as a commentator on Netflix’s exclusive broadcast of Opening Night, the Giants have officially rid themselves of the two streaks associated with the home run king.
In the final game of last season, shortstop Willy Adames launched his 30th home run of the campaign, becoming the first Giants player to reach that number since Bonds in 2004.
While Ramos, 26, established himself as a building block when he was named an All-Star in 2024, it wasn’t a sure thing that he would be the one to end the streak after his play in left last season.
Multiple metrics rated Ramos as the worst defensive player at his position last year. But Buster Posey, the team’s top baseball executive, said he is confident that Ramos has put those issues behind him.
Posey watched from the suite level as Ramos tracked down fly balls in batting practice a day before the opener.
“He was locked in on all live swings coming off the bat,” Posey said. “I’m sure he did that some last year, but it just seems like it’s more concentrated work than it was last year.”
Vitello described Ramos in spring training as a “man on a mission” when it came to his defense. It started over the offseason, when Ramos reached out to new bench coach Jayce Tingler and outfield coordinator Shane Robinson. Ramos was taking fly balls long before his fellow position players arrived in Arizona.
“Mentally was the main part, because I was making it seem like it was harder than what it was,” Ramos said. “Physically, I’ve got the gift. It’s just about not making the easy part harder.”
Ramos connected with new center fielder Harrison Bader, who taught him better technique when he feels the need to backpedal. He worked on his angles and jumps with Tingler and Robinson, who hit live fungos rather than using a machine. Now, Ramos said he feels like a “complete player.”
He’s more than that. Ramos is the streak breaker.
Since Bonds, the Giants’ Opening Day left fielders have been as follows:
2008: Dave Roberts
2009: Fred Lewis
2010: Mark DeRosa
2011: Pat Burrell
2012: Aubrey Huff
2013: Andres Torres
2014: Michael Morse
2015: Nori Aoki
2016: Angel Pagan
2017: Jarrett Parker
2018: Hunter Pence
2019: Connor Joe
2020: Alex Dickerson
2021: Austin Slater
2022: Joc Pederson
2023: Blake Sabol
2024: Michael Conforto
2025: Heliot Ramos
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