The Minnesota Twins on Wednesday named 33-year-old righthander and 11-year MLB veteran Ervin Santana their opening-day starter.
Santana is in his second year with the Twins after stints with the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves. He was 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 2015 after missing the first half of the season because of a PED suspension. He is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts this spring.
Santana will anchor a rotation that includes veteran Phil Hughes, Kyle Gibson and either Ricky Nolasco, Tyler Duffey or Tommy Milone, who are in competition for the final two spots.
The Twins begin the regular season April 4 in Baltimore with a three-game series, followed by a three-game series in Kansas City. Manager Paul Molitor said on Wednesday that Gibson will start the second game of the Baltimore series, followed by Hughes.
Gibson, 28, is in line to start the Twnis' home opener on April 11 vs. the Chicago White Sox.
