Marco Gonzales cherishes the honor and the responsibility.
As the Mariners’ new No. 1 starting pitcher, he has opportunities and expectations beyond the average starting pitcher.
So far, that means Gonzales has the distinction of being the Mariners’ starter on opening day vs. the A’s in Tokyo and now the home opener Thursday night vs. the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
“I want that,” he said. “I think I’m that type of person where I enjoy going out and setting the tone for a team like this. Especially when this could be a defining year for us, I want to be at the forefront of that, and I want to show what this team is all about.