SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers manager Jeff Banister has officially announced that Cole Hamels will be the Opening Day starter against the Mariners on April 4.
"For me, it's a great honor to have that opportunity," Banister said. "He has done it before and to do it for us is pretty special."
Hamels will be the seventh Opening Day starter for the Rangers in the past seven years. Kevin Millwood was the Opening Day starter from 2006-09. Since then, it has been Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Tanner Scheppers and Yovani Gallardo.