The Opening Day of the Major Leagues is this March 28, which will have a great representation of Latin pitchers since there will be 11 pitchers on this opening dayincluding Patrick Sandoval representing Mexico.
Sandoval, who was with Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, He will have the responsibility of being the number 1 starter for the Los Angeles Angels who will begin the season against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
“It is a great honor,” Sandoval said. “It’s something you dream about when you’re a kid: starting on Opening Day. And I get to do it for my hometown team. “It’s great,” said the Mexican.
Patrick Sandoval with the responsibility against one of the favorites
Sandoval will face Corbin Burnes, one of the strongest pitchers in recent years in the Majors. Besides, Baltimore is one of the big favorites to reach the World Series.
“Being a starter on Opening Day comes with a lot of responsibility.” and I’m ready for it. I’m ready to get these guys where we need to be. “We have a young staff and a lot of young people coming up, so it will be fun,” the pitcher said.
Manager Ron Washington decided to give the ball to Patrick Sandoval and stated that the Mexican left-hander has the potential to be a leader in the Angels.
“I think he’s been the person that the rest of the staff has looked for to lead them here for a few years now and he came to camp wanting to be that person,” Washington said. “His progression every time he took the ball showed that he wanted to be that guy. And he earned it. So we gave it to him,” said the leader.
Venezuelans and Dominicans make up the Opening Day
The Dominican Republic and Venezuela will have great representation on the mound during the Opening Day of Las Mayores.
The Dominicans who will open are Freddy Peralta (Brewers), Luis Castillo (Mariners), Brayan Bello (Red Sox), Frankie Montás (Reds) and Framber Valdez (Astros).
Castillo and Bello will face each other on the mound so they will be face to face on Opening Day of the 2024 season.
On the other hand, Peralta, Bello and Montás will have the first Opening Day start of their careers.
Venezuela will have two representatives with Jesús Luzardo (Marlins) and Pablo López (Twins).
Colombia will have a representative with José Quintana in the New York Mets and Cuba to one with Néstor Cortés in the New York Yankees.
José Berríos will be the representative of Puerto Rico with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Keep reading:
– With a cloud over the Shohei Ohtani scandal, the powerful Dodgers have their opening game
– These are the 10 biggest free agency signings before Opening Day 2024 in MLB