Blue Jays' Morrow to start Opening Day
The Blue Jays right hander, who begins the Major League season on the 15-day DL with forearm soreness, will make a rehab start Thursday as the Dunedin Blue Jays begin their 2011 season at home against the Clearwater Threshers. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
If all goes according to plan, this will be Morrow's first start of two before joining the Toronto rotation in mid-April.
For those who saw him during Spring Training, it's hard to believe that he was suffering from any soreness whatsoever. In three starts, he held opponents to just one run in 12 innings. He finished with a 2-0 record and struck out 16 while walking just three.
Morrow was scheduled to begin the season as Toronto's No. 2 starter behind Ricky Romero, but his setback allowed Kyle Drabek to step in and earn his first Major League victory in the season's second game, a 6-1 over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Acquired from Seattle in December 2009 and converted to a starter, Morrow emerged as a player to watch in 2010. He finished the season with a 4.49 ERA, and his powerful fastball helped him strike out 178 in just 146 1/3 innings of work.
Though he will likely be on a strict pitch count, Morrow won't be holding anything back as he readies himself for the 2011 campaign. Dunedin Blue Jays fans are encouraged to arrive early so as not to miss the special start and then also to stick around after the game to enjoy postgame fireworks.