Veteran Milone named starter for Opening Day

He replaces All-Star Means, who’s dealing with tired arm

Tommy Milone was signed as one last rotation depth piece for the Orioles a week into spring training. He’ll get the biggest assignment of the season Friday after manager Brandon Hyde told the veteran left-hander that he would be starting on Opening Day against the Boston Red Sox in place of All-Star John Means.

Milone, 33, was a minor-league freeagent signing who spent 2019 with the Seattle Mariners, recording a 4.76 ERA in 111

innings. Seattle was his sixth team in nine major-league seasons, with his career beginning with the Washington Nationals and taking him to Oakland, Minnesota, Milwaukee, the New York Mets and back to Washington before Seattle.

When Hyde approached him at Camden Yards before the team bused down to Washington for an exhibition game against the Nationals on Tuesday night, he asked Milone if he had ever made an Opening Day start — knowing that he hadn’t.

“He had a big smile on his face, like ‘Where am I going with this?’ ” Hyde said. “It’s great to give people great news. … I’m sure he’s already done it, but calling home to let his friends and family know that he’s an Opening Day starter — that’s a big deal.

“He’s been with quite a few clubs, seen a lot of different things. He’s hung in there, grinded. ... To make an Opening Day start, that’s a special achievement for somebody. He’s not taking that lightly.”

Milone came to the Orioles this spring with a career 50-47 record and a 4.47 ERA in 174 games, mostly as a starter. He replaces Means, the team’s lone All-Star in 2019, after Means had a tired arm this weekend.

Means played catch and felt good Tuesday, Hyde said, but the team will be conservative with the only homegrown pitcher in its rotation.

The decision to go with Milone came down to rest. Alex Cobb pitched Monday’s exhibition game against Washington because Hyde said he was a little behind schedule.