Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara ready to return to the mound on Opening Day

One of the best pitchers in baseball is back.

The Marlins will have ace Sandy Alcantara back on the mound when the season starts against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Alcantara missed the entire 2024 season after having Tommy John surgery.

In 2023, Alcantara won the National League Cy Young Award.

On Wednesday, Alcantara said, “A lot of emotions. So to finally be back tomorrow on the hunt, I’m excited to be back out there and competing.”

Alcantara added, “I was out for more than 17 months. Now, I’m back. I’m super excited to be back out there tomorrow and showing people that I was working to be out there to compete and represent my country and my team.”

A frightening thought for batters, Alcantara said, “I was working to get my pitches more nasty, sorry about it.,”

It will be a marquee showdown.

The Pirates will be throwing one of the best young pitchers in baseball, Paul Skenes.

First pitch is at 4:10 p.m.