The Seattle Mariners will have a new Opening Day starting pitcher for the first time in a decade. Longtime ace Felix Hernandez was recently informed by manager Scott Servais that there will be a new starting pitcher on Opening Day this season.
27-year-old left-hander Marco Gonzales will be the Mariners Opening Day starter this year. It ends Hernandez’s streak at 10 in a row.
Hernandez is in the final year of his seven-year, $175 million contract. He is only the seventh pitcher in major league history to make 10 consecutive Opening Day starts.
Via ESPN:
“I am disappointed, but I understand [the decision],” Hernandez told ESPN. “I did not have a good year last year, so I understand that part. But only that part. It hurts me because of all the years that I’ve been here, but that’s the way baseball is. This is a business.”
King Felix’s reign is over in Seattle. He’s not only not starting on Opening Day, he won’t make his first appearance until April 1st.
It’s a sad day for some in Seattle. For other’s it’s a passing of the torch that’s probably a little overdue.
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