A first-inning home run April 3 from Jefferson Rojas got the scoring started in 2026 for the Knoxville Smokies, who capitalized on wild pitches en route to a 9-6 Opening Day win at Covenant Health Park.
Seiya Suzuki, on a Double-A rehab assignment for the Chicago Cubs, knocked a single through the gap between the Birmingham Barons’ shortstop and third baseman in the bottom of the first inning. Suzuki crossed home plate on Rojas’ three-run homer, along with Alexander Ramirez, and followed up his offense with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
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Two wild pitches from two Birmingham pitchers − Jared Kelley and Jairo Iriarte − led to two Smokies runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Also in the inning, a groundout from Smokies third baseman Devin Ortiz scored Ariel Armas.
Armas, who was on base in the fifth inning after a line-drive single, widened the gap for the Smokies in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI double.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans cheer after Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Rojas (2) hits a three-run home run during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans cheer after Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Rojas (2) hits a three-run home run during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Davis (2) jumps over Birmingham Barons outfielder Braden Montgomery (6) as he makes a double play during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Cason, Lincoln and Caleb climb on a statue before Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
A Knoxville Smokies fans holds onto a beer during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Tom Boyd dances in front of his great-granddaughters before Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Hank Rucker, 4, throws out the ceremonial first pitch during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Rolan, one year and half years old, waits to watch his first baseball game during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
The Smokies logo during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans enter the stadium during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies outfielder Seiya Suzuki (6) high-fives teammates during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
The Boy Scouts unfurled a giant American Flag during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies Knox and Jackson dance during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans watch from the Yardley Flats during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies pitcher Zane Mills (34) pitches during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
News Sentinel videographer Sophie Szydlik hands out newspapers at Boyd’s Jig and Reel during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Bryley, 3, peeps out from the train during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Said, 8, and Paxton, 11, play giant Jenga during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies infielder Devin Ortiz (15) throws the ball during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Stephanie, 7, gets her face painted during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans walk by the new mural by Shane Grammar Arts during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies outfielder Alexander Ramirez (13) adjusts his helmet during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Delilah Kestner and Lynn Ward read the Knoxville News Sentinel during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
News Sentinel videographer Sophie Szydlik gives a baseball card to Lincoln, 5, during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans walk by the new mural by Shane Grammar Arts during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies outfielder Seiya Suzuki (6) jogs around the bases after Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Rojas (2) hits a three run home run during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
John Ahearn makes a hot dog at the Bush’s Baked Beans all-you-can eat Buffett during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans climb the stairs during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
A young Knoxville Smokies fan shows off a foul ball he got during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
News Sentinel reporter Keenan Thomas hands out newspapers at Old City Java during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies infielder Jefferson Davis (2) makes a double play during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies mascot Smokie Joe during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies try to get a free shirt during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville Smokies fans watch the game from the The Delaney during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
Knoxville’s School of Rock performs outside before Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
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Play Ball! Knoxville Smokies kickoff 2026 season at Covenant Health Park
A Knoxville Smokies fan talks on the phone outside the Yardley Flats during Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park against the Birmingham Barons on April 3, 2026.
Closing pitcher Evan Taylor killed all hopes of the Barons’ coming back in the game, which ended with a strikeout and a 9-6 Smokies win.
Smokies’ player of the game: Seiya Suzuki
The excitement fans felt for Suzuki was evident by the cheers he received during pregame introductions. His quick contributions further galvanized fans and gave Smokies players the momentum they needed to compete with the Barons’ offensive production.
Seiya Suzuki joins his temporary teammates before Opening Day for the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park. The Japanese-born outfielder is readying for a return to the Chicago Cubs after injuring his knee in the World Baseball Classic.
Suzuki went one-for-two at the plate with one run scored and one RBI before being pulled, likely to rest the right fielder as he for a return to the Cubs. Suzuki appeared with Chicago in spring training before suffering a knee injury in the World Baseball Classic while playing for Japan in March.
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Knoxville Smokies standings in Southern League North
The Smokies are now 1-0 in the first half of the season, putting them in a tie for first place in the Southern League North with the rival Chattanooga Lookouts.
Upcoming games, promotions at Covenant Health Park
The mini-series against the Barons continues April 4-5. The Smokies will have Monday, April 6 off before starting their first standard, six-game series of the season against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on April 7 (Free Beer Night).
Here are the remaining promotions for the Smokies-Barons series:
7 p.m. April 4: Summer Fireworks Series
2 p.m. April 5: Easter Celebration (Easter Bunny appearance, postgame on-field Easter egg hunt for kids)
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies win opener, Suzuki delivers in rehab start for Cubs