KCKingdom
Fansided

Best Opening Day starts in Kansas City Royals history

By Leigh Oleszczak

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: A detailed view of the ceremonial Opening Day logo home plate used during the pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 4, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 04: A detailed view of the ceremonial Opening Day logo home plate used during the pre-game ceremonies prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on April 4, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 13
Next
Starting pitcher Edison Volquez #36 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the opening day game (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Starting pitcher Edison Volquez #36 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the opening day game (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Kansas City Royals Best Opening Day Starts – No. 4: Edinson Volquez (2016)

The Royals were the reigning World Series champions heading into the 2016 season and were determined to keep the crown in Kansas City. That’s why there was so much pressure riding on Edinson Volquez on Opening Day to get the season off to the best possible start.

Volquez had shone as the Royals’ ace in 2015 and it was an obvious decision to have him be the team’s starter on Opening Day. He picked right back up where he had left off in the World Series, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing just two hits while striking out five batters.

The Royals went on to win 4-3 over the Mets (the same team they had beat in the World Series less than six months prior) and got a W in their first game of the season. Unfortunately for Volquez, his season went downhill and he posted an ugly 5.37 ERA when the year was said and done.

Volquez has since pitched for the Marlins and Rangers. In 2017, he pitched his first-ever no-hitter on what would have been Yordano Ventura’s 26th birthday. It was a cool moment not just for Royals fans (even though he did it as a Marlin), but for all of baseball.

Kansas City missed the postseason in 2016 and didn’t have a chance to repeat as World Series champions, but Volquez’s Opening Day start that year was certainly one of the most important in franchise history.

Home/Royals All-Time Lists