For the second time in his career, Luis Castillo will take the ball as the Reds’ Opening Day starter against the Cardinals on April 1. Manager David Bell made the announcement on Friday evening.

Castillo, 28, also started the opener for Cincinnati in 2019. Bell gave him the news on Thursday.

“He doesn’t take it for granted. It really makes my job enjoyable for sure, being able to tell him that, and just that great response and the big smile,” Bell said.

“The first thing I did was hug the manager. The second was I called my family to give the good news that I was going to be the Opening Day starter for the second time,” Castillo said via translator Jorge Merlos.

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Over 12 starts in 2020, Castillo was 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.23 WHIP -- including being 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his final five starts.

“I think it’s so special because it’s every pitcher’s dream to be the Opening Day starter,” Castillo said. “Obviously, I’ve done it once. To do it twice is even better. Just because it’s the second time doesn’t mean it’s any less or more, it just means it’s what I wanted to do.”

The remaining order of the Reds' five-man rotation has yet to be revealed.

The Cardinals announced a few weeks ago that Jack Flaherty would be their starter for the 4:10 p.m. ET opener at Great American Ball Park.

A native of Bani, Dominican Republic, Castillo was named to the National League All-Star team in 2019. In his 90 career starts for Cincinnati since 2017, he is 32-33 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 3.14 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

“He’s just a young pitcher, still, that continues to get better and better in so many ways,” Bell said. “He’s just really the full package. He’s a great teammate, great person, very humble, but also confident. He’s got an easy way about him, but he competes as well as anyone, any pitcher that I’ve been around.”

Castillo ends a streak of six different pitchers to be the Reds Opening Day starter since 2016, when Raisel Iglesias pitched the game. Scott Feldman started in ’17, Homer Bailey in ’18, Castillo in ’19 and Sonny Gray in ’20.

Once Gray revealed he will miss the start of the season because of mid-back muscle spasms, all signs pointed to Castillo as the clear choice for Bell.

“It’s Opening Day, of course I’m going to feel awesome,” Castillo said. “It’s just an honor with all of the work that I’ve done these past couple of weeks and prior to that, it’s just amazing to be the Opening Day starter for the team.”

In the ’19 opener vs. the Pirates, Castillo gave up one run, two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts but received a no-decision during a 5-3 Reds win.

Castillo has pitched five scoreless innings with three hits, three walks and three strikeouts in two Cactus League games this spring.

“I’d say he’s as ready as I’ve ever seen him,” Bell said. “I think guys take different approaches to coming into Spring Training. Well, he came into Spring Training this year very ready to go, very focused, in great shape. His arm looks really close to being ready for the season.”