White Sox tab Quintana for 1st Opening Day start

Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria announced the expected Friday by confirming ace Jose Quintana will get the start on Opening Day against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers, according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

This will be the first Opening Day assignment of Quintana's six-year career.

Quintana was given the nod after having his name bandied about in trade rumors for almost the entirety of the winter. There's still the possibility that he could be dealt in season, but for now the 28-year-old will take on the role of No. 1 starter for the young South Siders.

A free-agent signing by the White Sox in 2012 after he'd spent several years languishing in the New York Yankees' farm system, Quintana is coming off the best season of his career that saw him earn his first All-Star berth and finish 10th in Cy Young voting. The durable Colombian also surpassed the 200-inning mark for a fourth straight season.

Judging by the early returns, Quintana's successful 2016 season appears to have carried over to this year. He twirled a gem in Colombia's opening game of the World Baseball Classic against the United States, then retired 17 straight batters in a spring game earlier this week.