While the Los Angeles Dodgers intended for Clayton Kershaw to start Opening Day, the likelihood of it becoming a reality began to fade as he remained on the mend from shoulder inflammation.
The next likely candidate appeared to be Walker Buehler, but he too lagged behind other starters in his progression during Spring Training. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ultimately ruled out Kershaw and Buehler, naming Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu as the options.
Although Hill may have been a perceived favorite, he was removed from the picture Friday morning because of a left knee sprain. So the nod went to Ryu, who will make the first MLB Opening Day start of his career.
The moment is one Ryu is appreciative of but not something that had been on his mind, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com
“It’s definitely special, my first time in an Opening Day since I got to the States,” said Ryu, who started “four or five” Opening Days in Korea. “I wasn’t really thinking about it, nor was it my priority. My goal was to build up my pitch count and innings to be ready for the season. That wasn’t on my radar.”
For the Dodgers, this season will mark the first time someone other than Kershaw starts on Opening Day since Vicente Padilla in 2010. Ryu is the first lefty other than Kershaw to start Opening Day since Fernando Valenzuela in 1988.
Ryu put together a stellar spring, pitching to a 3.00 ERA while recording 12 strikeouts in 15 innings over five Cactus League starts. He sported a 3.75 ERA in three starts against the Diamondbacks last season, though didn’t factor into any of the decisions.
