Watch: Rays outfielder picks perfect time for first career HR

Tampa Bay Rays Kameron Misner (26) is congratulated after he hits a walk-off home run to beat the Colorado Rockies during the ninth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Watch: Rays' Kameron Misner picks perfect time for first career HR

By David Hill | Last updated Mar 28, 2025 7:13 PM ET

Sometimes all a player needs is a chance. That was the case for Rays outfielder Kameron Misner on Friday.

Misner led off the bottom of the ninth with the Rays and Rockies tied at 2-2. He turned on the first pitch he saw from reliever Victor Vodnik, belting a 97 mph fastball off the plate inside deep to right for a walk-off home run, only the second time that the Rays had a walk-off Opening Day homer. That homer was the first of Misner's major league career.

First-pitch swinging!

Kameron Misner's first career home run is a WALK-OFF home run! pic.twitter.com/77K0dpZJQQ
— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2025

It was also historic:

Kameron Misner of @RaysBaseball is the first player in MLB history to hit a walkoff HR on Opening Day for his first career HR.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 28, 2025

Misner was not expected to be in that situation. He had originally been slated to begin the 2025 season in Triple-A but was recalled when outfielder Richie Palacios landed on the injured list with a fractured right ring finger. Misner entered the game in the top of the eighth inning as a defensive replacement after starting left fielder Christopher Morel was lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh.

Ranked as the Rays' 27th-best prospect per FanGraphs, the 27-year-old outfielder has been lauded for his athleticism and power. However, Misner had struggled in his brief time in the majors in 2024. He was 1-15 with ten strikeouts over his three weeks with the Rays before ending the year in Triple-A.

However, Misner had a strong showing during the spring. He produced a .394/.474/.667 batting line in his 38 plate appearances, hitting two homers and three doubles. Misner had performed well enough to earn a place on the Rays Opening Day roster; he just needed that chance to open up.

David Hill

Based in the mountains of Vermont, Dave has over a decade of experience writing about all things baseball. Just don't ask his thoughts on the universal DH.

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