Thu Mar 27 21:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Padres Pitcher Kyle Hart Set for Emotional Opening Day Debut After Winding Road to the Majors

SAN DIEGO, CA – Kyle Hart, a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, is preparing for a starkly different Opening Day experience than his MLB debut in 2020. While his first appearance saw him pitching in a nearly empty, pandemic-era Fenway Park, Thursday will find him taking the mound in front of a sold-out Petco Park.

Hart, who spent last season in Korea winning the equivalent of a Cy Young Award, signed a $1.5 million deal with the Padres in February. He learned he’d made the team and the rotation on Sunday, receiving the news in a meeting with team management, followed by a celebratory champagne lunch with his family.

While his starting assignment is yet to be officially announced (either Saturday against the Braves or Monday against the Guardians), Hart expressed excitement, stating, “I’m super excited… I’m going to try to take every second of that in, and then when I get out there, I’m going to be hyper-focused on doing my job.” He acknowledged past struggles in his career, emphasizing his gratitude for this opportunity.

Meanwhile, Padres pitcher Michael King, who will likely start the opening game, is also looking forward to the electric atmosphere. While he’s made opening day rosters before, Thursday will mark his first Opening Day start. He expects the energy to be similar to his playoff debut last October.

King anticipates a challenging matchup against the Atlanta Braves, noting key changes to their lineup, including the return of Chris Sale, absent due to injury last postseason. He acknowledges the Braves are a “different and better team” this year, promising a heightened adrenaline level for the game.

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