Zach Eflin’s Opening Day déjà vu, rewritten by the purest of voices: another career feat, hand-delivered by joy. It was more than simply the honor of starting on Opening Day for a player who has devoted a large portion of his career to overcoming injuries and failures; it was also about the path that brought him to that point. What’s better than hearing the biggest news of your career from the people who matter most?

Since Zach Eflin was moved from Tampa Bay to Baltimore on July 26 last year, Hyde has been impressed with the righty, so it wasn’t a tough choice. The management believes that he is the ideal candidate for the role. He is a mainstay of the rotation because of his ability to limit hard contact and his 1.14 WHIP from the previous season. But the way he found out made the moment even more special.

In a video posted by FOX Sports, the news broke in the best possible way to Zach Eflin.  “We have some people that want to say some things to you,” Hyde said to Eflin. “One, two, three, blast off!” the kids yelled on a video call. “Blast off?” Eflin asked. “You’re the Opening Day starter,” Lauren said along with the children. Despite early career setbacks and inconsistencies, Eflin has developed into a pitcher who can be relied upon to perform in crucial situations.

Eflin demonstrated his value last season with the Orioles, going 14-7 with a 3.68 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 190 innings. He was an obvious choice for the Opening Day nod because of his reliability and capacity to produce strong beginnings. Thus, for No. 24, this moment symbolizes the meeting point of personal and professional success. With this support, how far can Eflin carry the Orioles?

What does Zach Eflin’s opening day nod mean for the Orioles?

The Baltimore Orioles made a calculated decision by selecting Eflin as their Opening Day starter. It shows that Eflin is the rotation’s anchor and the club looks to him to set an example. The Orioles had high hopes for 2025 after finishing with 101 wins in the previous season. With a youthful core of position players like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the rotation’s ability to offer consistency will be crucial to the team’s success.

Eflin is just what Baltimore needs because he can devour innings and keep games tight. Eflin played a key role in the Orioles’ success last season, finishing third in the American League in team ERA (3.74). His 2024 season continued to improve significantly. He pitched 165 1/3 innings in 28 starts for the Rays and O’s, with a 3.59 ERA. He pitched four innings of one-run ball in the O’s season-ending American League Wild Card Series Game 2 defeat to the Royals after recording a 2.60 ERA in 55 1/3 innings over nine starts.

Zach Eflin’s performance on Opening Day can set the tone of the season. Having thrown in the postseason for the Phillies and the Rays, including a crucial start in the 2023 ALDS against the Astros, where he gave up just two runs in six innings, he is accustomed to pressure. He is the ideal match for a squad that wants to win a title because of his experience playing under pressure. With Eflin at the helm, could this be the year the Orioles finally make a deep playoff run? Share your take on this in the comments below.