Topps NOW Celebrates MLB Opening Weekend 2026

Suárez, Okamoto, Yelich, and More

It is official! America’s favorite pastime is back in full swing, with Major League Baseball throwing out the first pitch last Wednesday. As usual, MLB Topps NOW was there to chronicle the biggest moments of the opening weekend for 2026.

Read on to see which stars rose to the top over the first few days of play.

Okamoto Makes a Statement in MLB

The Blue Jays front office made a lot of moves in the offseason — many to the pitching staff — but one that stuck out was the acquisition of third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. The former Yomiuri Giant stepped to the plate on March 29 to show the world why he’s called “Big Oak.”

Okamoto stood firm in the box in the bottom of the fourth against the Athletics when he turned on a low 0-1 fastball and sent it opposite field for his first-ever home run in Major League Baseball. Okamoto and the Jays went on to capture the win 5-2.

Christian Yelich with the Big Play

It started as a rough day for the Milwaukee Brewers on March 29, as they headed into the bottom of the eighth down four runs to the White Sox at American Family Field. Finally, the Brew Crew started getting the bats hot. The bottom half of the lineup did the grunt work of getting on base, and the top of the order drove in three runs with two out.

As runners stood on the corners, down now by only one run, the lefty Christian Yelich was brought in to pinch hit against the righty pitcher in a favorable matchup. Yelich sat back on a 2-2 splitter high in the zone and sent it into the right field cheap seats to take the lead 9-7.

The 421-footer was Yelich’s first as a pinch hitter and helped the Brewers secure the series sweep against the White Sox to start the season.

Owen Caissie Walks Off

Owen Caissie was traded to the Marlins this winter as part of a deal between Miami and the Cubs. Suffice it to say, he was eager to prove himself to his new ballclub as the season kicked off. Lucky for him, that opportunity came against the Rockies in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and a man on base.

Caissie saw one pitch and decided that was enough, as the second one he saw never came back. His walk-off shot to right field gave the Marlins their first 3-0 start since 2009.

Suárez Nails a Huge Homer

Eugenio Suárez has had quite the journey over the past four years since being traded from the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, playing for the Mariners, Diamondbacks, and back to the Mariners. Hot off his electric performance in the World Baseball Classic (where his RBI gave Venezuela the gold), Suárez showed he’s still hot as ever as he crushed a 431-foot three-run blast into the second deck for his first homer of the season, and his first back in a Reds uniform.

With one swing, Suárez put the Reds on top in the sixth inning, where they stayed with a final of 3-2.

So much has already happened in such a short time this season! Keep it locked right here to Topps RIPPED to find out whose top-shelf performance will be honored next on MLB Topps NOW.

MLB Topps NOW Collector FAQs

• What is MLB Topps NOW?
  • It’s an online-exclusive, print-to-order set celebrating the biggest plays, stars, and moments of each MLB season.
• Where can I buy 2026 MLB Topps NOW cards?
  • Cards are available on Topps.com during the release window.
• How long are Topps NOW cards available to purchase?
  • Cards are available for order during a limited release window. After it closes, only the number of ordered cards are printed, ensuring that each card becomes a limited collector’s item commemorating its own distinct moment in time.
• Why are Topps NOW cards good for baseball collectors?
  • The limited nature of the print-to-order model, timely production, and focus on historic moments all combine to make Topps NOW baseball cards great additions to any collection.

Key Facts

• Event: 2026 MLB Opening Weekend
• Set: MLB Topps NOW
• Key Players: Kazuma Okamoto, Christian Yelich, Owen Caissie, Eugenio Suárez
• Where to Buy: Topps.com

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