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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin named Opening Day starter in the most wholesome way

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin throwing a pitch against the Boston Red Sox (2024)
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin throwing a pitch against the Boston Red Sox (2024)Greg Fiume/Getty Images/AFP
The Baltimore Orioles organized the best way possible to let pitcher Zach Eflin (30) know that he will be the team's Opening Day starter this year - a video call from his wife and daughters.

Eflin will get the ball to start the Orioles season on March 27th against the Toronto Blue Jays

"He's very appreciative and he understands how much it means, so that was a very cool moment," said Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde.

This now marks back-to-back years as the Opening Day starter for Eflin.

In 2024, he started Opening Day for the Tampa Bay Rays against, ironically, the Toronto Blue Jays. 

He was traded to the Orioles prior to the deadline last season and who did he debut for them against? Also the Toronto Blue Jays, a game in which they won 11-5. 

Eflin eventually went on to be stellar for them - starting in nine games (55.1 innings) with a 5-2 record while throwing a career-best 2.60 ERA, adding 47 strikeouts while walking just 11 batters.

The now 10-year veteran spent the first seven years of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies but only managed to finish just one of those seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA. 

Now, with starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez out with elbow soreness, the Orioles, their players, and fans will all be looking to him as he now shoulders a rotation that many have critiqued throughout the offseason.