Kikuchi 'happy and honored' to get 1st Opening Day nod for Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Angels manager Ron Washington didn¡¯t have to think too long when deciding his Opening Day starter.

Washington said it was an easy call to give that honor to veteran lefty Yusei Kikuchi, who will take the mound against the White Sox on March 27 at Guaranteed Rate Field. It¡¯s the first time starting a regular-season opener for the six-year veteran, who signed a three-year deal worth $63 million this offseason. Kikuchi didn¡¯t officially find out until Thursday when Washington made the announcement, but had been told in January to prepare to start the club¡¯s first game.

¡°I didn¡¯t tell him, it¡¯s just obvious,¡± Washington said. ¡°We just signed him to a big contract. We didn't bring him here to be a four or a five. We didn't bring him here to be three or a two. We brought him here to lead our staff. That's the obvious part.¡±

Kikuchi said he¡¯s excited to make his first career Opening Day start and it¡¯s not something he takes lightly. He¡¯s scheduled to make one fewer start than the other pitchers in the rotation this spring, as he prefers to pitch every six days during Spring Training to get ramped up for the regular season -- making his first start a week after the other pitchers.

¡°I¡¯m very happy and honored,¡± Kikuchi said through interpreter Yusuke Oshima. ¡°I¡¯m hoping we get off to a great start, starting with Game 1.¡±

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Kikuchi, 33, has a career 4.57 ERA with 837 strikeouts in 809 2/3 innings and posted a 4.05 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings with the Blue Jays and Astros last year. He was particularly impressive with Houston with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts with 76 strikeouts in 60 innings. It came with an increase in slider usage, which Kikuchi is expected to continue this season.

¡°Obviously, pitch usage was big but what really helped was using the slider, the back door slider more,¡± Kikuchi said. ¡°It¡¯s something I always had, but it's just I wasn't using it and with the Houston Astros, they helped me figure that out again. And so I'd like to use that more this year.¡±

Washington said he views Kikuchi as a leader in the clubhouse and believes he can help mentor the club¡¯s younger pitchers. Lefty Tyler Anderson and right-hander Jos¨¦ Soriano were also candidates to start the first game, but Washington said Kikuchi made the most sense.

¡°He's been there, done that,¡± Washington said. ¡°He's pitched in big games. We¡¯re looking for him to lead that staff, and there are some guys behind him that are capable too.¡±

Washington has also been impressed by the Japanese international¡¯s English and has been able to communicate effectively with him this spring. It also allows Kikuchi to connect with his teammates easier as well.

¡°Yusei speaks English, don¡¯t let him fool you,¡± Washington said. ¡°When he's speaking English, and the words might be difficult, he uses his interpreter, But he's been conversing with us in English. He¡¯s a teammate and is doing what he needs to do to communicate and is involved in what we¡¯re doing.¡±

Kikuchi added that he¡¯s enjoyed being around his new teammates and believes in the direction of the franchise in Anaheim. He also said Washington reminds him of his managers in Japan because of his intensity and fire. Kikuchi is one of several veterans who was brought in this offseason to supplement the club¡¯s young core, and he said signed with the Angels because he¡¯s optimistic about their chances to contend going forward.

¡°There's obviously many reasons, but the one thing I can say is I feel like we can win with this team,¡± Kikuchi said. ¡°I really feel that with the young guys coming up. Even through contract negotiations, I really thought that this team really wanted to win.¡±

Kikuchi said the key for his first start is not to make it any bigger than necessary, as it¡¯s just one of many. He¡¯s known for his durability, as he made 32 starts in both 2023 and '24 and has only been placed on the injured list once in his career, missing 21 days with a neck strain in ¡®22.

¡°I was just told that I was going to start today explicitly so I'm not feeling that kind of pressure right now,¡± Kikuchi said. ¡°It¡¯s just one game at the end of the day. So what's most important is making 30 to 32 starts in a season and being able to stay healthy and put up the numbers. That's what I'm more focused on.¡±