Dodgers Opening Night 2026 Was Everything a Baseball Fan Could Ask For

The Dodgers opened the 2026 season at Dodger Stadium last night and it was one of the best in-stadium experiences we've had in a long time.

The Ring Ceremony

The World Series ring ceremony went player by player with the USC marching band playing in the background, which was a nice touch that added some real weight to the moment.

Some of the biggest ovations went to Will Klein and Alex Vesia, who received an emotional standing ovation following the passing of his newborn child. The crowd showed a lot of love there. Then the obvious names brought the house down. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and the rest of the core all got massive reactions.

The best moment came at the end. The Dodgers didn't announce Clayton Kershaw during the regular ceremony, which had some fans confused. Then Orel Hershiser walked out to what everyone assumed was the ceremonial first pitch. Dave Roberts called an audible and brought Kershaw out instead for a surprise moment. They played "We Are Young," his classic walk-up song, and the stadium erupted. It was genuinely emotional and perfectly executed by the organization.

The Game

The baseball was just as good as the pregame. Alex Freeland crushed a home run to right field. The swing was clean and the ball carried beautifully in the night air. Mookie Betts hit a three-run shot and has been noticeably more animated with his celebrations this season. He's been vocal about it and the energy is contagious.

Kyle Tucker delivered a game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning, which was exactly the kind of clutch moment you want from a new addition.

Then the real show started. Edwin Diaz came in to close the game and the Dodgers rolled out a full trumpet entrance. A live trumpet player performed his entrance song as Diaz walked in from the bullpen. The crowd was completely locked in. Diaz shut the door and the entire stadium was singing "I Love LA" as the lights came on.

Dieter Ruehle Is the Best in the Business

We need to talk about Dieter Ruehle. The Dodger Stadium organist is single-handedly responsible for so much of the in-game atmosphere, and he doesn't get enough credit for it.

Ruehle has been the Dodgers' organist since 2016, and he's turned the organ into one of the best parts of attending a game at Chavez Ravine. He plays walk-up cues that are perfectly timed to each batter. He reads the crowd better than anyone. He mixes classic ballpark organ with modern songs in a way that feels natural and never forced. The vibe at Dodger Stadium would not be the same without him.

He also plays for the LA Kings and previously played for the Lakers, and it genuinely upsets us that the Lakers moved on from him. He was also the organist for the hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The fact that multiple professional organizations across multiple sports want him tells you everything you need to know.

Dieter Ruehle is the best organist in professional sports. He deserves every flower he gets and then some.

The Details

A few other things we noticed. The LED lights around the exterior of the stadium are still not fully installed, which is part of the ongoing Dodger Stadium renovation.

The new jerseys looked sharp in person. And Alex Freeland is using a Don Toliver track as his walk-up song, which we fully support.

One of the best Opening Nights in recent Dodger Stadium history.

All photos by ColorWay Sports