The Philadelphia Phillies have announced Zack Wheeler as the team’s starter for Opening Day against the Atlanta Braves, slated for Thursday, March 28 at Citizens Bank Park.

This marks Wheeler’s debut Opening Day start in a Phillies uniform, effectively concluding fellow starting pitcher Aaron Nola’s string of six consecutive Opening Day starts.

At the age of 34, Wheeler begins this season fresh off another great year in Philadelphia, despite the team’s defeat in the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In a momentous step earlier in March, Wheeler and the Phillies hit a notable milestone with a 3-year, $126 million deal agreement. This pact boasts a $42 million annual average value (AAV), making Wheeler the highest-paid Phillie in history and setting a new norm for AAV in contract extensions across MLB.

Among starting pitchers, Wheeler’s $42 million AAV sits as the fourth-highest, after only Shohei Ohtani’s $46 million and contracts inked by Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander with the New York Mets, each with a $43.3 million AAV.

Since joining the Phillies as a free agency in 2019 with a five-year, $118 million deal, Wheeler has repeatedly shown himself as one of baseball’s elite starters. Additionally, the Phillies locked Nola to a seven-year deal extension this offseason, bolstering their pitching rotation for the foreseeable future.

Reflecting on his contract extension, Wheeler emphasized his appreciation for Philadelphia, emphasizing the amazing support of the fans and the thrilling environment of Citizens Bank Park, particularly during postseason play.

“I’ve really just enjoyed being here in Philly,” Wheeler stated. “The fans are the best. Playing in Citizens Bank Park in October, there’s nothing like it.”