"He opened up for us last year and had a real good year for us," Mackanin said. "I have a lot of confidence in him. I think he earned the right."
Hellickson made his first career Opening Day start at Great American Ball Park on April 4, 2016, and allowed one unearned run and three hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out six.
Hellickson is coming off a 12-10 season in which he set career highs in strikeouts (154) and starts (32) and tied his high in innings pitched (189).