The Cincinnati Reds have already decided on their Opening Day starter. The honor belongs to last year’s standout Tyler Mahle, who is now set to face the reigning World Series champs Atlanta Braves when the 2022 MLB season starts on April 7.
The Reds’ manager David Bell delivered the news to Mahle and said that the 27-year-old player was really excited for the opportunity.
“It was a real honor to give him the news,” Bell said. “He doesn’t always show it, but he was really excited. He knows how important it is, and he’s earned it. He has quietly become one of the best pitchers in baseball.”
Mahle has been quietly good for the Reds ever since he made his majors debut in 2017. However, his game really took off last season when he had league-leading 33 starts. He finished the campaign with a 13-6 record, 3.75 ERA, and career-best 210 strikeouts.
Despite being arguably the best pitcher on the Reds last year, Mahle didn’t expect to get the Opening Day nod. In previous years, Veteran Luis Castillo had that honor and was expected to continue the tradition in 2022. However, Castillo is dealing with shoulder pain at the moment, making the transition easier for Bell.
“It means a lot,” Mahle said after learning the news. “Some people never get to do this. I may only get to do it once. I don’t know so I will try to make the most of it and have a lot of fun.”
