Zack Greinke has returned to the Kansas City Royals, the team which drafted and developed him into one of the premier pitchers in the game today.
Even at 38 years old, Greinke is still effective.
The Royals certainly thought so, signing their former ace to a one-year, $13 million contract that includes $2 million in performance bonuses.
Not only that, but he will be starting Opening Day on April 7 against the Cleveland Guardians.
Greinke last made the Opening Day start for the Royals in 2010, 12 years ago.
As he prepares to do it for the Royals again, he’ll make some unique history, which will mark the largest gap between Opening Day starts for the same team.
This will be Zack Greinke's sixth opening day start and second with the #Royals. His start next Thursday will come 12 years after that first one in KC, marking the largest gap between opening day pitching starts for the same team, according to @EliasSports and @SlangsOnSports.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) March 30, 2022
Where Did The Time Go?
It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since Greinke made an Opening Day start for the Royals, but time sure flies, doesn’t it?
The difference now is that he’ll have Salvador Perez back behind the plate, who is one of the game’s top catchers.
Back then, it was Jason Kendall who caught Greinke on Opening Day.
Kendall has obviously retired since then and is now 48 years old, but it just goes to show how long Greinke has been around.
That will certainly make some Royals fans feel old.
It doesn’t feel like it’s really been that long since Greinke last donned Royal blue, but again, time waits for no one, and here he is again, back where his career began all those years ago.
But this time he’ll return as a well-traveled veteran who has seen action in some big moments, especially in the postseason.
The Royals may not be on that level yet, but you can bet the competitor in Greinke wants to bring another title back to Kansas City.
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