‘Model of consistency’ Berrios cherishes Blue Jays’ Opening Day nod
Jose Berrios was announced as the Opening Day starter for the Blue Jays on Monday, and while this is the fifth time he’s received the assignment in his career, it hasn’t lost its meaning. David Singh has the story.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Jose Berrios was announced as the opening-day starter for the Blue Jays on Monday morning, and while this is the fifth time he’s received the assignment in his career — third with Toronto — it hasn’t lost its meaning to him.
“It’s a special day but also it’s [becoming] more special for me because my three kids are growing up and they now understand what that means,” Berrios said minutes after manager John Schneider made the news public.
“I feel happy. I feel proud because I’m able to throw on that day for them.”
When Berrios takes the mound in the March 27 contest against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre in Toronto, he’ll become just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to start the opener at least three times. Jimmy Key also started three, while Dave Stieb did it four times and Roy Halladay seven.
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That’s impressive company, no doubt, and it speaks to how much the organization values him since he was acquired at the 2021 trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins and signed later that year to a seven-year, $131-million extension.
“We have a group of guys that you can pick out of a hat but I think [we’re] just really excited with the work that he’s put in,” Schneider said. “Body of work over his career is awesome and the type of teammate that he is, all that kind of stuff, but continuing to move forward as a pitcher with the stuff he’s doing in camp has been encouraging.”
Berrios has allowed just four runs across 15.1 innings (2.35 ERA) over his four spring starts, striking out 13 and walking four. After Sunday’s start against Atlanta — a six-inning, no-run performance against a lineup that barely featured Braves regulars — Berrios said he’s happy with where he’s at physically. The plan is for him to pitch again on Friday when the Blue Jays host the Philadelphia Phillies at TD Ballpark and then throw a side session when the team heads to Toronto ahead of the opener.
Berrios posted a 3.60 ERA over 192.1 innings in 2024. Remarkably, he’s made exactly 32 starts in every year since 2018, with the exception of the pandemic-shorted 2020 campaign. Schneider called the right-hander “a model of consistency,” and that’s something the pitcher embraces.
“I always take pride in my job,” said Berrios. “They call me, ‘La Makina,’ so I work hard every day to try to stay healthy and durable and also do well.”
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The native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has a reputation throughout the league for his intense work ethic and it’s the first thing his rotationmates highlight when you ask them what they admire most about Berrios.
“There’s really no one that you can look at more and say he does everything the right way than Berrios,” Chris Bassitt said. “The way he takes care of himself should be studied around the league so everyone should do that. So, the so-called workhorse in Berrios and him always being ready is what I think is the most admirable thing.”
Said Kevin Gausman: “He’s an easy guy to like and he works his butt off. Always does things the right way … If you’re a young guy, and you want to learn what it takes to be a really consistent big-league pitcher, he’s a prime example of a guy you should watch.”
Gausman will follow Berrios in the opening series, with the rest of the rotation to be decided later. The health of Max Scherzer, who’s dealing with a troublesome right thumb, will be a determining factor there.
The Blue Jays’ rotation, which also features right-hander Bowden Francis, was considered a strength entering spring training, but Scherzer’s injury could throw a wrench into that and test the depth of the staff.
At least in Berrios, though, the Blue Jays know exactly what they’re going to get.
When chatting about the Opening Day assignment, Berrios likened it to attending the first day of school when he was a child. There’s a sense of newness everywhere, from the cleats to the glove and the uniform, he noted.
“Honestly, we try to make that day normal, but it’s not,” he said.
— With files from Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi
