The Colorado Rockies have officially named left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland as their Opening Day starter for the 2024 season. This announcement, made Tuesday morning, comes as no surprise. This will mark Freeland’s third time taking the mound for the Rockies on Opening Day, tying him with Germán Márquez for the most such starts in franchise history.

Freeland, now 30 years old, has experienced mixed results in his previous two Opening Day starts. In 2019, following an impressive season where he finished fourth in the National League Cy Young voting, he delivered a strong performance against the Miami Marlins, allowing just one run over seven innings. His second Opening Day appearance came in 2022 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he struggled, lasting only 3 2/3 innings while surrendering five runs on five hits.

With Márquez and Antonio Senzatela sidelined as they recover from Tommy John surgery, Freeland will be the anchor of the Rockies' rotation, expected to carry a significant workload until Márquez potentially returns after the All-Star break. Joining Freeland in the starting rotation will likely be Austin Gomber, Ryan Feltner, Cal Quantrill, and Dakota Hudson.

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Despite battling injuries and inconsistencies over the past few seasons, Freeland’s performance in 2024 spring training has been promising. During RockiesFest in January, he mentioned focusing on improving his physical conditioning in the offseason, particularly strengthening his shoulder to avoid recurring issues and regaining lost velocity. Entering spring training in his best shape since 2021, he has looked like his old self.

Over four starts this spring, Freeland has pitched 14 innings, allowing five runs on 14 hits while holding opposing batters to a .255 average. One of the most encouraging signs has been his improved velocity—after averaging 88-90 mph in 2023, he has frequently hit 92-94 mph this spring. Additionally, he has refined a new changeup grip, a technique he picked up from former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright during their time together in the World Baseball Classic. His ability to command the strike zone has been effective, averaging just 11.79 pitches per inning.

The Rockies will open their season on March 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where Freeland will square off against Arizona’s Opening Day starter, Zac Gallen.