SARASOTA, Fla. — After the way spring training has unfolded, the announcement Friday was a mere formality.

Zach Eflin will be the Orioles’ opening day starter March 27 against the Blue Jays in Toronto, manager Brandon Hyde announced Friday afternoon. The soon-to-be 31-year-old veteran right-hander was the obvious choice to earn the Orioles’ first start, especially after Grayson Rodriguez’s arm injury that will keep him out to begin the season.

“He’s very appreciative,” Hyde said of Eflin. “He understands how much it means. That was a really cool moment.”

Hyde pulled Eflin, a nine-year veteran, into a meeting Friday to give him the news, but the skipper instead gave Eflin a tablet for others to tell him. When Eflin turned it around, he saw his wife and four kids, all under 3 years old, and got the news from his three daughters.

“I don’t know a better way to find out than from the people you love the most,” Eflin said. “Hyder came up with the iPad, and he’s like, ‘Are you ready to do it?’ And I was [thinking], ‘Man, I hope my family’s on it.’ It was awesome to see all of them. It was great.”

“Very blessed and humbled and very appreciative they trust me like that,” Eflin added.

Entering spring training, it was assumed that the first ball would either go to Eflin or Rodriguez. But Rodriguez was shut down from throwing and received a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation in his elbow. Rodriguez should begin throwing next week, but the club has yet to announce a timeline for when he could possibly return to game action.

The injury made the opening day decision easy.

“It’s a special day,” Hyde said. “It’s something they’ll never forget. I think if you ask guys that have done multiple opening days, they’ll tell you how special each one of them is. It’s almost like a holiday. Opening day is a holiday. To be the one on the mound for your team, it just means a lot.”

This won’t be the first rodeo for the 30-year-old right-hander, though. Eflin started opening day last year for the Tampa Bay Rays, though it was one of his worst starts of the season. He gave up six runs in five innings against the Kansas City Royals, but he earned the win in a high-scoring game.

Eflin’s experience wasn’t necessarily a factor in the decision, but Hyde said that it will be “helpful” while pitching in a loud environment at the Rogers Centre.

“Nothing really bothers Zach,” Hyde said. “He’s as cool and calm as they come. There’s not an environment that’s going to be too much for him.”

Eflin said opening day brings more “anxiety,” but he believes he’s better prepared for it now after having the experience last season.

“You understand this is just a game you’ve been playing since you were 4 years old,” he said.

Instead, his status as the Orioles’ best healthy starter and his success the past two seasons did that for him. Eflin finished sixth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2023 after winning 16 games and posting a 3.50 ERA with the Rays. Last season, he recorded a 2.60 ERA in nine starts with Baltimore after the club traded for him at the deadline.

“He was just so steady last year,” Hyde said. “He gave us a chance every start, made a great start in the postseason for us. He’s a great teammate. He pulls for guys the other four days he doesn’t start. He goes about his business the right way every single day. He’s incredibly professional. He’s one for a young pitcher to definitely follow because he just does everything right.”

The Orioles won’t have a day off after opening day this season. They’ll play a four-game series in Toronto and then come back to Baltimore for their home opener March 31 against the Boston Red Sox.

Hyde said that the club isn’t ready to announce who will be its Nos. 2 through 5 starters. Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano are locks to be in that group. Cade Povich and Albert Suárez are competing for the final spot.

Rodriguez to ‘restart’: Rodriguez is set to begin his throwing program early next week, but as expected, he won’t pick up where he left off. Hyde said Rodriguez will “restart” his buildup, meaning the 25-year-old right-hander will have to full ramp up again, delaying his return.

“So it’s going to take a while,” Hyde said.

Rodriguez opened camp with a plan to dial back his velocity during his first few starts, but the radar gun readings raised concern. He averaged only 93.2 mph on his fastball — down about 3 mph from his 2024 average.

Around the horn

n Hyde said there’s no update on shortstop Gunnar Henderson as he makes his way back from a ribs muscle strain. Henderson is still taking light swings in the batting cage and doing preliminary defensive work.

n One of the options to fill in for Henderson if he’s not ready is Jorge Mateo, but Hyde said the speedster is “pretty doubtful” for opening day. Mateo has said that he expects to be healthy enough in time for the beginning of the season, but Hyde noted that the infielder hasn’t had an at-bat since his injury in late July. Mateo could play in an exhibition game “in the next handful of days.”

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