Luis Alvarado De Sousa / @AlvaradoDeSousa
15 Creoles have taken this responsibility, consecutively since 2001. Freddy García (Mariners) and Omar Daal (Phillies) started the streak that continues more than two decades later. Felipe Lira started the path for the Creoles on Opening Day in 1996. Although he carried the setback, he marked a before and after for the Venezuelan pitchers at the Big Show.
Well into the 2000s, Felix Hernandez, Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana they dominated the openings of the criollos in opening games in the majors.
From 2005 to 2010, Zambrano was in charge of taking the ball for the Chicago Cubs in the first game of the season. Johan Santana also took on that role from 2006 with the Minnesota Twins, to continue in the Big Apple with the New York Mets until 2010.
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With three openings on Opening Day, they are joined by Jhoulys Chacín and Freddy García. To close the list of criollos with multiple appearances on the pitch on day 1 of the season, we find the “Untouchable” Wilson Álvarez. The left-hander from Zulia climbed the little nose twice to open on the opening day.
“El Toro” was the protagonist in Opening Day / Photo: Fansided
However, the great protagonist among Venezuelans with openings to open the harvest, has been the “King” Félix Hernández. With eleven consecutive appearances, Hernández was crowned the monarch of the Seattle Mariners, from 2009 to 2018. However, his first start in this type of commitment took place in 2007.
Journalist Ignatius Serranohas compiled over several years, a list of Venezuelans who have managed to take on this important task. Below we present the list prepared that began in 1996.
List of Venezuelan pitchers on Opening Day:
nineteen ninety six
Felipe Lira, with the Tigers.
1998
Wilson Álvarez, with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
1999
Wilson Álvarez, with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
2001
Freddy Garcia, with the Mariners.
Omar Daal, with the Phillies.
2002
Freddy Garcia, with the Seattle Mariners.
2003
Tony Armas, with the Expos.
Freddy Garcia, with the Mariners.
2004
Victor Zambrano, with the Devil Rays.
2005
Carlos Zambrano, with the Cubs.
2006
Carlos Zambrano, with the Cubs.
Johan Santana, with the Twins.
2007
Carlos Zambrano, with the Cubs.
Johan Santana, with the Twins.
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners.
2008
Carlos Zambrano, with the Cubs.
Johan Santana, with the Mets.
2009
Carlos Zambrano, with the Cubs.
Johan Santana, with the Mets.
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners.
2010
Carlos Zambrano, with the Cubs.
Johan Santana, with the Mets.
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners.
2011
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners.
2012
Johan Santana, with the Mets.
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners.
2013
Jhoulys Chacín, with the Rockies.
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners.
2014
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners
2015
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners
Henderson Alvarez, with the Marlins
2016
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners
2017
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners
Junior Guerra, with the Brewers
Jhoulys Chacín, with the Padres
2018
Felix Hernandez, with the Mariners
2019
Jhoulys Chacín, with the Brewers
2020
German Marquez with the Rockies
2021
German Marquez with the Rockies
2022
Eduardo Rodríguez, with the Tigers
More starts for Venezuelans in the Opening Game
11- Felix Hernandez
6- Carlos Zambrano
6- Johan Santana
3- Jhoulys Chacin
3- Freddy Garcia
2- Wilson Alvarez
1- Nine pitchers matched
Most consecutive starts
10- Felix Hernandez
6- Carlos Zambrano
5- Johan Santana
Statistical data of the journalist Ignatius Serrano
We want to thank the author of this short article for this amazing content
How many Creole pitchers have had starts on Opening Day?