The Red Sox had a unique player starting in centerfield on opening day of the 2014 MLB season. Grady Sizemore, in case you weren’t aware, has been out of baseball for a while. In fact, he hasn’t played a game since 2011. Weighed down by relentless injuries, Sizemore was considered by some to be done in Major League Baseball. Yet all spring, he’s been on the path to a remarkable comeback. With one swing of the bat, he officially reaffirmed himself as a full fledge Major Leaguer, homering in his second at-bat (he lined a base hit in the first at-bat). The highlight of the homer is seen in the above GIF.

And here’s another look at the highlight in slow-motion. That lefty swing looks just as good as it ever did in 2005-2008:

Sizemore came into Red Sox camp on a one-year deal worth $750,000 as a base salary. However, if he stays healthy and continues to crank homers like the one shown above, then his deal could increase to as much as six million. It’s a win-win for both parties, since Sizemore clearly wants to stay healthy, and will be rightfully rewarded financially if he does. On top of that, having a former All-Star center fielder at such a discount could prove a steal for the Red Sox if he does continue to stay on the field and play well.

Though some fans might be concerned that a 31-year-old on a one-year deal has displaced the supposed center fielder of the future (Jackie Bradley Jr.), keep in mind that Sizemore could potentially only be in Boston for a single season, and that Boston’s depth (which JBJ is clearly a critical component of) will inevitably play an important role at some point during the lengthy season.