Eflin named Orioles’ Opening Day starter

SARASOTA—It wasn’t a surprise when Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced that Zach Eflin would be the team’s Opening Day starter. Eflin will pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on March 27^th.

It’s the second consecutive Opening Day start for the 30-year-old right-hander. On March 28^th, 2024, Eflin started for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field and allowed six runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

“Going through situations you’ve never been in, like last year for me, being Opening Day, treat it just like any other game,” Eflin said. “Now that I’ve done it before, I know how to prepare myself. Anxiety might be a little more heightened on Opening Day. It might be a little more heightened throughout the year and the playoffs.

“You have those experiences and you learn from it and understand it’s a game you’ve been playing since you were 4 years old. Nothing really changes. Very blessed and humbled and very appreciative that they trust me like that.”

Eflin has started three times in spring training and has allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking two.

“Going good. Felt healthy coming up. Feel healthy now,” Eflin said. “It’s really about checking those two boxes and really building up the pitch count and getting the volume up to be prepared to go 33-plus starts. I feel like it’s going great so far.”

He threw on the back fields on Tuesday and will start against Philadelphia on Sunday in Sarasota.

“I told him today. He’s very appreciative, and he understands how much it means,” Hyde said. “That was a very cool moment. I was really happy to tell him.”

Hyde, pitching coach Drew French, pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek and bench coach Robinson Chirinos were in the room with Eflin when Hyde handed him an iPad so that his young children could tell him the news.

“I’m getting chills right now. I don’t know a better way to find out than from the people you love the most,” Eflin said. “Hyder came up with the iPad and he’s like ‘you ready to do it?’ And I was like: ‘I hope my family is on it,’ so it was awesome to see all of them on it.”

With Grayson Rodriguez unavailable because of right elbow discomfort, it seemed a sure thing that Eflin would get the call. Most projections had Eflin starting before spring training began last month.

“I think he was going to be one of the leading candidates, and as camp went along,” Hyde said. “He pitched so well for us the second half last year. We’re happy to give him the ball the first day.”

Eflin was acquired by the Orioles from the Rays last July 26^th and was 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA in nine starts.

“It’s a special day. It’s something they’ll never forget,” Hyde said. “If you ask guys that have had multiple Opening Days, they’ll tell you how special each one of them is. It’s almost a holiday. Opening Day is like a holiday. To be on the mound for your team, it means a lot.”

Eflin will be pitching on the road in Toronto, a potentially hostile environment, something that could help.

“I think that’s helpful. That wasn’t part of the decision-making, but I think it’s very helpful,” Hyde said. “Nothing really bothers Zach. He’s as cool and calm as they come. It’s not an environment that will be too much for him. He’s going to enjoy it.

“He was so steady last year He gave us a chance every start. He made a great start in the postseason for us. He’s a great teammate. He pulls for guys the other four days he doesn’t start. He goes about his business every day, the right way. He’s incredibly professional. He’s one for a young pitcher to definitely follow because he does everything right.”

It’s the third consecutive season the Orioles have chosen an Opening Day starter who was not with the team for the previous opener. Corbin Burnes started last year and Kyle Gibson in 2023.

The Eflins have four young children. The youngest is a baby boy born when spring training opened in mid-February. They hope to join him in Toronto for the opener.

“If we can find our passports, yes,” Eflin said. “I have my passport. Somehow, we can’t find the other passports right now. We’re looking. We’re looking everywhere. We’ll see. I don’t know how realistic it is for four kids under three to go through customs. I’m probably happy I’m not going to be a part of that process, but I’m hoping we can find our passports.”

Notes: Hyde said there was no news on shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who’s in the early stages of a hitting fielding progression. Henderson has a right intercostal strain. … Rodriguez hasn’t resumed throwing. … Hyde said that infielder Jorge Mateo is “pretty doubtful” to be active on Opening Day. He had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last August and has yet to play in a Grapefruit League game.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.