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While the Cardinals acknowledged the symbolism of their "new chapter" beginning at the plate with top prospect JJ Wetherholt leading off Thursday's opening day game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the idea was more production than poetry.

With one swing, he gave them both.

In the second at-bat of his big league debut, Wetherholt crushed an 0-2 fastball to one of the deepest spots of Busch Stadium, a location so infamous for an October home run that landed there it carries the hitter's name: Freese's lawn. Wetherholt's first major league hit was a 425-foot solo homer that gave the Cardinals their first run of the season and their first lead, too.

They led 1-0 after 3 1/2 innings Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium.

Before the game, manager Oli Marmol described the skills that Wetherholt brings to the plate and why he wanted the top prospect to start the season with the big club. He referenced Wetherholt's balanced approach, his competitive eye, his poise and that gap-to-gap swing.

"Cool opportunity to grow in that spot," Marmol said.

Or go long in that spot, too.

In the first at-bat of his career, Wetherholt stepped in to applause and scattered standing ovations for his major league debut. He saw seven pitches in that first at-bat, working Rays starter Drew Rasmussen to a full count. Wetherholt got ahead 2-0 on the first two pitches, then fouled off consecutive fastballs at 95.3 mph or faster. He took a cutter for a ball to run the count full, then fouled off a two-strike fastball at 96.2 mph.

When Rasmussen went back to the fastball for the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Wetherholt flared it to shallow center.

A racing catching by Cedric Mullins robbed Wetherholt of his first MLB hit.

In his second at-bat to lead off the third inning, Wetherholt fell behind 0-2 to Rasmussen. Again, he saw the right-hander's cutter and then a four-seam fastball for the second strike. Wetherholt offered at both and missed. Rasmussen went back to the fastball, and it left his fingers at 94.5 mph.

Flashing that comfort in two-strike counts that Marmol also mentioned, Wetherholt pounced on the pitch he had just missed four times before.

The ball rocketed off his bat at 101.7 mph and traveled to the batter's-eye in center field to break the scoreless tie.

Wetherholt's run around the bases was escorted by cheers and followed by cameras documenting almost every move of his debut.

The ovation continued as he ducked into the dugout to celebrate with teammates until the crowd coaxed him out to the top step for a curtain call.

It was just another first of his career packed into that one swing.