Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond named right-hander Jose Fernandez the Opening Day starter, making him the youngest pitcher to start a team’s first game of the season in seven years.
Fernandez is the reigning National League Rookie of the Year who finished third in the Cy Young Award voting last season.
Fernandez, who will be 21 years and 274 days old when the Marlins open the season March 31 against the Colorado Rockies, will be the youngest Opening Day starter since the Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez in 2007. Hernandez was 20 years and 359 days old.
Previously, the youngest Opening Day starter in Marlins history was Josh Beckett, who was 22 years and 320 days old in 2003.
Fernandez went 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA with 187 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings last season.