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Braves tab 22-year-old Soroka for 1st Opening Day start

Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Atlanta Braves officially named Mike Soroka their Opening Day starter Tuesday.

Soroka, 22, will become the franchise's youngest Opening Day starter of the modern era. The right-hander will also be the youngest starter to get the nod in MLB since Jose Fernandez in 2014, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Fernandez was 21 years and 7 months old when he made his first start of that season for the Miami Marlins.

The last time a starter younger than Soroka got the Opening Day gig for the franchise was in 1878, when Tommy Bond started for the Boston Red Caps, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

Soroka had a breakout rookie campaign in 2019, authoring a 2.68 ERA and 3.45 FIP over 174 2/3 innings. The right-hander made his first All-Star roster, finished as runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting, and placed sixth in NL Cy Young balloting.

This marks the first time since 2013 that Julio Teheran will not start on Opening Day for the Braves. Teheran is now a member of the Los Angeles Angels.

The Braves kick off the shortened 2020 season July 24 with a three-game set against the New York Mets in Flushing.

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