Former Red Sox fan favorite hits Opening Day home run in first NPB game

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Former Red Sox fan favorite hits Opening Day home run in first NPB game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's always fun to see former players of your favorite team succeed elsewhere, as long as it does not come at your team's expense.

First baseman Bobby Dalbec could have turned into something very special with the Boston Red Sox, but he couldn't reach a high level of consistency at the plate. The 30-year-old hit a career high of 25 home runs with the Red Sox in 2021.

Dalbec signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox last offseason and took 21 trips to the plate, collecting just four hits in 7 Major League games.

This past December, Dalbec landed a one-year deal with Nippon Professional Baseball's Yomiuri Giants.

Dalbec hits Opening Day bomb​

NPB is in a "dead ball" era, which means the balls aren't flying off the bats like they used to. Chunichi Dragons first baseman Miguel Sano learned that the hard way the other day, watching his towering fly ball drop in front of the warning track.

Dalbec did not run into the same issue, connecting for his first NPB home run in a 3-1 victory against the Hanshin Tigers.

Bobby Dalbec just hit his first career NPB homer on Opening Day for the Yomiuri Giants.

Doesn’t look like those spring training blasts were a fluke…

[URL='https://t.co/uumByYHbBu']pic.twitter.com/uumByYHbBu[/URL]

— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) [URL='https://twitter.com/tylermilliken_/status/2037503039741796857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw']March 27, 2026[/URL]

Dalbec's career trajectory has been up and down, but maybe he's found a place where he can stick in Japan.

More MLB news:​

• Reds’ Hunter Greene to be out until July amid brutal injury news
• Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki will return to rotation, not bullpen according Dave Roberts
• Alex Cora announces Caleb Durbin is Red Sox starting third baseman
• Joey Wentz is out for the season with a torn ACL for the Braves
• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jesus Luzardo’s $135 million extension is a steal for Phillies
• This 19-year MLB record is finally over for the Giants
• Luis Gil sent down to minor leagues in strange Yankees roster move

Continue reading...