Twins tab RHP Berrios to start opener

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli knows that plenty of difficult decisions await him, but he had no trouble naming Jose Berrios as his Opening Day starter. The first-year skipper announced Monday that the 24-year-old right-hander will take the mound March 28 for the opener against the visiting Cleveland Indians.

"Our staff did spend some time talking about it, just to make sure to hear different opinions," Baldelli told reporters. "In this instance, there wasn't a ton of discussion. Everyone was basically just happy for him. I think everyone feels not just comfortable with it, but excited for him." Berrios went 12-11 with a 3.84 ERA in 32 starts last season. He struck out 202 batters in 192 1/3 innings.

The hard-throwing Puerto Rico native is 29-26 with a 4.47 ERA in 72 games (71 starts) since entering the majors in 2016. He will be starting a major league opener for the first time in his career. The Twins turned to Jake Odorizzi to start the season a year ago, and Ervin Santana opened the season in 2017. "I want to pitch that day," Berrios told reporters of the opener. "We've got a really good group. I believe in all of the people here in the clubhouse, but I'm putting in all of my effort to be ready for that day."

--Field Level Media