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The Dominican Republic contributes the largest number of Latin pitchers on Opening Day

The Caribbean island country will provide the biggest number of pitchers of Latin origin on Major League Baseball’s 2024 Opening Day.

Estados Unidos
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 04: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on April 04, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.   Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Steph Chambers / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
STEPH CHAMBERSAFP

Major League Baseball announced the names of the pitchers who will have the honor of opening Opening Day in the 2024 season.

Several of the game’s top leaders, including Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, have recently suffered injuries, resulting in the team requiring additional time to finalize the list of players starting the new season.

Opening Day is a much-awaited moment when past memories are forgotten and new hopes are renewed. It is a day filled with excitement and action-packed events that will begin early this Wednesday when the Dodgers and the Padres face off in South Korea. The rest of the organizations will join the opening day next week.

On Opening Day, there will be a total of 20 All-Star pitchers, as well as four pitchers who will be making their debut for their respective teams.

Among the 11 Latin American pitchers chosen to start for their teams, five hail from the Dominican Republic, making it the country with the highest representation.

Dominican pitchers who will open the season

Luis CastilloMariners
Brayan BelloRed Sox
Framber ValdezAstros
Frankie MontásReds
Freddie PeraltaBrewers

One of the most notable duels among the Dominicans is the one between Luis Castillo and Brayan Bello.

Castillo will make his fourth Opening Day start, while Bello makes his debut.

Venezuela is in the second spot

Pablo LópezTwins
Jesús LuzardoMarlins

Patrick Sandoval, who is of Mexican origin, will make his Opening Day debut when the Angels visit the Baltimore Orioles. Meanwhile, the Mets will have Colombian José Quintana take the ball. The New York Yankees will have Cuban Néstor Cortés make his first Opening Day start when he takes the mound to face the Astros’ artillery. Finally, Puerto Rican José Berrios of the Blue Jays will face the Rays. And will take the ball.