The day that baseball fans were waiting for finally arrived, as Opening Day of the 2022 MLB season came and went. Just a few months ago, the MLB season was very much in jeopardy due to the lockout. However, America's Pastime is back, and it returned with a bang, as there were plenty of memorable moments from the season's first couple of days for teams across the league. MLB fans were treated to several young kids making their big-league debuts, from Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros to Bryson Stott of the Philadelphia Phillies. Speaking of the Phillies, the Phanatic sure knows how to make an Opening Day entrance. But was that even the best moment that came from Citizens Bank Park on Friday afternoon? There were walk-offs, as the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees fought back to secure Opening Day victories, led by players who weren't on their rosters last year. There was tension, as fiery New York Mets manager Buck Showalter took exception to the Washington Nationals repeatedly hitting his players with high and tight pitches. Baseball fans experienced a whole range of emotions on Opening Day thanks to all of these moments. That said, here are the five best moments of Opening Day, ranked.

Ranking The Five Best Moments From Opening Day

5. The Blue Jays loudly announce World Series aspirations with insane comeback

The Toronto Blue Jays had about as active of an offseason as any team, re-signing last year's deadline acquisition Jose Berrios while bringing in reinforcements in the form of ace Kevin Gausman and slugger Matt Chapman. The star-studded roster resulted in the Blue Jays making the lists of many as a trendy World Series pick. Well, the 2022 MLB season didn't get off to the best start for the Jays, as Berrios surrendered four earned runs to the Texas Rangers in the first inning, digging a 7-0 deficit for Toronto. However, the Jays stormed back, completing an incredible comeback, led by stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez, who combined for five RBI to help the team secure a 10-8 victory. It was the biggest Opening Day comeback in 72 years, per MLB.com. The best part? The Blue Jays did it at home in the Rogers Centre, where they hadn't sold out a game since 2018.

4. Kyle Schwarber wastes no time in securing first Phillies' home run

Kyle Schwarber arrived in Philadelphia as part of lineup reinforcements designed to make things easier on reigning MVP Bryce Harper. Along with Nick Castellanos, Schwarber was set to make the Phillies lineup one of baseball's best in the home run department. As such, Phillies fans headed to the park expecting balls to fly out of the stadium. Schwarber didn't keep them waiting long, as he homered in his very first at-bat as a member of the Phillies. Not only was it a curtain call moment for Schwarber, but the moment set the tone for the day. Anytime the Oakland Athletics got close, the Phillies offense simply supplied, well, more offense. Could that be a theme for the Fightin' Phils in 2022?

3. Josh Donaldson walks it off- then squashes beef with Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole and the Yankees got off to a rough start, as the New York ace again struggled to hold the Boston Red Sox, who have had his number, down on Opening Day. After allowing three runs to cross the board, a frustrated Cole left the game early after just four innings pitched. The ace starter received a pep talk from an unlikely source, as newcomer Josh Donaldson assured him that he and the team had his back. Donaldson, of course, infamously called out Cole last year for utilizing illegal substances while pitching. It was simply poetic, then, that Donaldson was the one up at the plate with a chance to deliver the game-winning hit, picking up Cole in the process. Deliver Donaldson did- and Cole was as excited as anyone. After the game, Donaldson put the beef to an end with his postgame comments, saying he and Cole “are boys now.”

2. Mets-Nationals rivalry renewed after multiple hit batters, Buck Showalter explosion

The New York Mets and Washington Nationals aren't the first rivalry to come to mind. However, things are bound to be tense between the two clubs after the events of their first two games. First, Mets slugger Pete Alonso was beaned in the face by a Nationals pitch. Just one night later, star shortstop Francisco Lindor suffered a similar fate. Alonso and Lindor marked four Mets players hit by pitches in the first two games, a statistic certainly not lost on Mets manager Buck Showalter, who emerged from the dugout angrily seeking answers from the Nationals. An irate Showalter firmly standing behind- or in front of- his players was certainly a memorable Opening Day moment. There are sure to be more of those between the Mets and Nationals this year.

1. Astros' Jeremy Pena authors emotional moment with first career homer during parents' interview

Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena, tabbed as the replacement for free agent departure Carlos Correa, enjoyed a strong debut, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle while helping his team to a 13-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels. However, the best moment of the contest occurred in the seventh inning, while Cecilia and Geronimo Pena, a former major leaguer himself, were being interviewed as proud parents. In a Hollywood-scripted moment, Pena homered while his parents looked on- on live television. The Penas' authentic, overjoyed reaction is one baseball fans won't soon forget. That's what sports are all about.