SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman took a brief trip down memory lane on Tuesday, when he was asked how his reaction to an Opening Day assignment has evolved over the past three years.
"I think I'm more prepared for it now. It was something I hadn't experienced before, so the first one was rough on me," said Tillman, who is the first Orioles hurler to receive three consecutive Opening Day nods since Mike Mussina (1998-2000).
"It was the nerves that got to me the first time, the excitement was through the roof, the butterflies deal, and now I know what to expect.