Berríos named Blue Jays' Opening Day starter

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The obvious is now official. José Berríos is the Blue Jays’ Opening Day starter against the Rangers at Rogers Centre on April 8, leading a rotation with the talent and depth to be among baseball’s best.

Berríos got the news Thursday morning from manager Charlie Montoyo, a meaningful moment for the fellow Puerto Ricans. This won’t be Berríos’ first Opening Day start and it surely won’t be his last after signing a seven-year, $131 million extension in November, but they all hit him the same.

“I’m so happy. I’m so glad I have the chance to pitch that first day,” Berríos said. “It’s like when you were young, and that first day you go to school. It’s the same feelings, same emotions. I’m so excited for that day now. I know when I tell my family, they’re going to enjoy and celebrate.”

After Berríos was dealt to the Blue Jays at the Trade Deadline last summer, he pitched to a 3.58 ERA down the stretch, helping the Blue Jays to get within a game of the postseason. That performance falls right in line with the 27-year-old’s career numbers, and with 32 starts in each of the last three full seasons, there aren’t many players in this league more consistent than Berríos.

Combine talent and predictability, and you have a pitcher who should give the Blue Jays 32 shots at a win, plus a few more in October if all goes according to plan.

Opening Day in Toronto will also represent a full return to normal -- or close enough -- in Toronto. Rogers Centre will be at full capacity, which wasn’t the case when the Blue Jays returned in 2021 after a season and a half on the road.

“The people in Toronto are so excited for this season,” Berríos said. “Baseball is still the same sport, though. No matter where and how, we just have to go out there and repeat. Having a big crowd in the stands, we play for them and we play for the city. We play for our families. We take that for motivation.”

Montoyo had other options, of course. Kevin Gausman just signed a five-year, $110 million free-agent contract and Hyun Jin Ryu is coming off Opening Day starts in ’20 and ’21, but Berríos was always the guy.

“His makeup, it’s huge. He has great makeup and is a great teammate,” Montoyo said. “And of course, he’s a great pitcher. Every time he takes the mound, we have a chance to win. As I always say, that’s all you can ask from a pitcher.”

Beyond Berríos, the Blue Jays will roll out their rotation with Gausman as the No. 2 followed by Ryu, Alek Manoah and then Yusei Kikuchi. This separates the lefties and gives opponents different looks on either sides of Ryu, but regardless of which way the Blue Jays shuffle their cards, this is the best rotation they’ve had in years.

This group will need a hand along the way, too. With a condensed season that includes more nine-inning double-headers, the Blue Jays will need to dip into their depth, which is impressive in its own right. Nate Pearson and Ross Stripling are both likely to open the season stretched out in bullpen roles, so either could be an option, along with Thomas Hatch, Bowden Francis or Anthony Kay from Triple-A.

However the rest shakes out, though, Berríos will be at the top, and that’s not changing any time soon.

“I hope I can have that feeling for my next seven to 10 years,” Berríos said.