Burnes to make his O's debut in 3rd career Opening Day start

SARASOTA, Fla. -- On Sunday morning, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde made an unsurprising announcement, one that has been expected since before Spring Training even began.

Corbin Burnes will be Baltimore’s Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Angels at Camden Yards.

“A real honor for me to let him know,” Hyde said. “We’ve been talking about it for a while, and we’re real excited to watch him pitch on Opening Day.”

The reigning American League East champion Orioles acquired the 29-year-old Burnes on Feb. 1, when they swung a blockbuster trade with Milwaukee. Baltimore parted with left-hander DL Hall, infield prospect Joey Ortiz and a 2024 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick, and in return, the team acquired the ace it had been lacking at the top of its rotation.

Burnes will be making an Opening Day start for the third consecutive year after getting the assignment for the Brewers in each of the past two seasons. In 2022, Burnes allowed three runs in five innings vs. the Cubs at Wrigley Field. In ‘23, he again faced the Cubs in Chicago, yielding four runs over five innings.

“Not many guys can say they've started Opening Day. So for me to do it three years now -- and three years in a row -- is pretty special,” Burnes said. “I'm glad to take the ball Opening Day. But I’m going to take the ball every five days, whenever I’m called upon. So it’s just one of hopefully 30-plus starts.”

That may be the case, but Opening Day brings different levels of energy and adrenaline. Burnes is well aware of that from his past experiences.

“Not quite the level of a postseason start, but definitely a little more elevated than just your natural game,” Burnes said. “I go out and treat it as if it is any other start -- go through my routine, make sure I’m prepared, go out there and do what I can to help the team win.”

When Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, takes the mound for his Orioles debut, it will be the first time the team has had a pitcher who was a former Cy winner at the time start Opening Day since ‘01, when right-hander Pat Hentgen faced the Red Sox at Camden Yards. (Jake Arrieta started the ‘12 opener, but he didn’t win the award until after he left Baltimore.)

Hyde called Burnes on Sunday to let him know the announcement was coming, although the righty had been given a schedule that would put him on track to start Opening Day when he arrived in the organization. So it wasn’t shocking for Burnes, either.

“It’s not something to be taken for granted. It’s a really cool moment for anybody to be able to have that honor,” Hyde said. “I know he’s very appreciative.”

It’ll be Hyde’s sixth Opening Day leading the O’s, but he’s never had a pitcher the caliber of Burnes start the first game of a season.

Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers in Hyde era
2019: Andrew Cashner
2020: Tommy Milone
2021: John Means
2022: John Means
2023: Kyle Gibson

Burnes has developed into one of baseball’s elite pitchers in recent years. He led the Majors with a 2.43 ERA in his Cy Young-winning 2021 campaign, then paced the NL with 243 strikeouts in ‘22 and a 1.07 WHIP in ‘23. Burnes has recorded at least 200 strikeouts in each of the past three seasons, posting a 2.94 ERA in 93 starts over that span.

On Sunday afternoon, Burnes made his third Grapefruit League start of the spring in the O’s split-squad game vs. the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium, allowing five runs on six hits (including two homers) and a walk over three-plus innings in a 6-6 tie. He’s continuing to work on his cutter, focusing on getting his primary pitch to the level at which he wants it before the start of the season.

With two weeks to go in Spring Training, Burnes is slated to make two more starts, and he’s hoping to go about five innings in each. Then, he’ll be ready for his Opening Day assignment.

Much like all of the fans around Baltimore, the Orioles can’t wait.

“He’s been wonderful. He’s been more than advertised since he’s been here,” Hyde said. “He’s just been an incredible teammate, he’s been amazing in our clubhouse, he’s a leader. And to have someone with that sort of ability and track record pitch a lot for us and pitch Opening Day for us, we’re really excited.”