List of Nashville Sounds Opening Day starting pitchers

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Bill Dawley was the starting pitcher for the Sounds' inaugural April 15, 1978, opener. 1979 Nashville Bill Dawley.jpg
Bill Dawley was the starting pitcher for the Sounds' inaugural April 15, 1978, opener.
Tom Filer was the Opening Day starter for the Sounds' 1980 season in which the team won a franchise-best 97 games, losing only 46. 1980 Nashville Tom Filer.jpg
Tom Filer was the Opening Day starter for the Sounds' 1980 season in which the team won a franchise-best 97 games, losing only 46.
Jamie Werly made the first Opening Day start at Nashville's Herschel Greer Stadium in 1981. 1981 Nashville Jamie Werly.jpg
Jamie Werly made the first Opening Day start at Nashville's Herschel Greer Stadium in 1981.
Zach Jackson made back-to-back Opening Day starts in 2007 and 2008. Zach Jackson, Nashville.jpg
Zach Jackson made back-to-back Opening Day starts in 2007 and 2008.
Johnny Hellweg was selected as the Sounds' 2014 Opening Day starter after winning the 2013 PCL Pitcher of the Year Award. Johnny Hellweg on April 4, 2014.jpg
Johnny Hellweg was selected as the Sounds' 2014 Opening Day starter after winning the 2013 PCL Pitcher of the Year Award.
Chris Smith made the first Opening Day start at Nashville's First Tennessee Park in 2016. Chris Smith Nashville 2017 no-hitter.jpg
Chris Smith made the first Opening Day start at Nashville's First Tennessee Park in 2016.

The Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team has played in Nashville, Tennessee, since being established in 1978 as an expansion team of the Double-A Southern League. [3] They moved up to Triple-A in 1985 as members of the American Association before joining the Pacific Coast League in 1998. [3] With the restructuring of the minor leagues in 2021, they were placed in the Triple-A East, which became the International League in 2022. [4] [5] The first game of the new baseball season for a team is played on Opening Day, and being named the Opening Day starting pitcher is an honor which is given to the player who is expected to lead the pitching staff that season, [6] though there are various strategic reasons why a team's best pitcher might not start on Opening Day. [7] The Sounds have used 43 different Opening Day starters in their 47 seasons. [8]

Contents

Nashville's first Opening Day game was played against the Memphis Chicks at Tim McCarver Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 15, 1978. [9] Bill Dawley was their starting pitcher that day; he took the decision in a game the Sounds lost, 4–2. [9] Their first Opening Day game held at home was an 8–7 win against the Birmingham Barons at Herschel Greer Stadium on April 9, 1981. [8] Starter Jamie Werly, who went on to win the Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award that season, [10] did not figure in the decision. [11] On April 4, 2013, starter Tyler Thornburg took a no decision in the final Opening Day game at Greer Stadium, a 5–4 Sounds win. [8] [12] The team left Greer after the 2014 season, but did not play their first Opening Day game at First Horizon Park, their new facility then known as First Tennessee Park, until two years later. [8] In that game, held on April 7, 2016, Sounds starting pitcher Chris Smith was charged with the loss in a 5–0 shutout by the Oklahoma City Dodgers. [13]

Nashville's Opening Day starting pitchers have a combined Opening Day record of 12  wins, 16  losses, and 19 no decisions. At Greer Stadium, they had a record of 5 wins, 4 losses, and 8 no decisions in 17 Opening Day starts. At First Horizon Park, they have 1 win, 2 losses, and 2 no decisions in 5 Opening Day starts. They have an aggregate record of 6 wins, 6 losses, and 10 no decisions in 22 Opening Day starts at home. Nashville starters have a record of 6 wins, 10 losses, and 9 no decisions in 25 Opening Day starts on the road.

The only Sounds pitchers with more than one Opening Day start are Bill Dawley (1978 and 1979), Rodney Imes (1990 and 1991), Zach Jackson (2007 and 2008), and Carlos Rodríguez (2024 and 2025), each with two starts. Three Sounds Opening Day starters have also started Opening Day games in Major League Baseball: Bob Milacki for the Baltimore Orioles in 1990, [14] Wily Peralta for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016, [15] and Chris Bassitt for the Oakland Athletics in 2021. [16]

Pitchers

Key
Pitcher (#)Number indicates multiple appearances as a Sounds Opening Day starter
Score (#)Game score with Sounds runs listed first; number of innings in a game that was shorter or longer than 9 innings in parentheses
LocationStadium in italics denotes a Sounds home game
W Win earned by starting pitcher; Sounds won game
L Loss earned by starting pitcher; Sounds lost game
ND (W) No decision by starting pitcher; Sounds won game
ND (L)No decision by starting pitcher; Sounds lost game
Pitchers
SeasonPitcherDecisionScoreOpponentLocationRef.
1978 Bill Dawley (1)L2–4 Memphis Chicks Tim McCarver Stadium [17]
1979 Bill Dawley (2)L1–7 Jacksonville Suns Sam W. Wolfson Baseball Park [18]
1980 Tom Filer L4–6 Columbus Astros Golden Park [19]
1981Jamie WerlyND (W)8–7 Birmingham Barons Herschel Greer Stadium [20]
1982 Stefan Wever ND (L)9–10 (13) Columbus Astros Golden Park [21]
1983Mark ShiflettL4–5 Orlando Twins Tinker Field [22]
1984 Jim Deshaies W7–3 Orlando Twins Tinker Field [23]
1985 Randy O'Neal W3–1 Buffalo Bisons Herschel Greer Stadium [24]
1986 Bryan Kelly ND (W)6–3 Indianapolis Indians Herschel Greer Stadium [25]
1987 Scott Terry W8–4 Omaha Royals Herschel Greer Stadium [26]
1988 Norm Charlton ND (W)7–6 Indianapolis Indians Herschel Greer Stadium [27]
1989 Jack Armstrong L2–4 Indianapolis Indians Bush Stadium [28]
1990Rodney Imes(1)ND (L)6–8 Omaha Royals Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium [29]
1991Rodney Imes(2)ND (W)2–1 Omaha Royals Herschel Greer Stadium [30]
1992 Gino Minutelli L2–6 Denver Zephyrs Mile High Stadium [31]
1993 Larry Thomas ND (W)8–5 Iowa Cubs Herschel Greer Stadium [32]
1994 Steve Schrenk W10–4 Oklahoma City 89ers All Sports Stadium [33]
1995 Brian Keyser ND (W)6–3 Buffalo Bisons North AmeriCare Park [34]
1996 Luis Andújar L5–8 Buffalo Bisons Herschel Greer Stadium [35]
1997 Tom Fordham ND (L)3–4 (11) Buffalo Bisons North AmeriCare Park [36]
1998 Sean Lawrence L2–7 Iowa Cubs Sec Taylor Stadium [37]
1999 Bob Milacki W7–0 Edmonton Trappers Herschel Greer Stadium [38]
2000 Danilo León W10–5 Omaha Golden Spikes Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium [39]
2001 Sam McConnell ND (L)2–3 Memphis Redbirds AutoZone Park [40]
2002 Bronson Arroyo L5–12 Sacramento River Cats Herschel Greer Stadium [41]
2003 Ryan Vogelsong W5–4 Iowa Cubs Herschel Greer Stadium [42]
2004 Nelson Figueroa L3–6 Colorado Springs Sky Sox Herschel Greer Stadium [43]
2005 José Capellán ND (W)7–3 (6) [n 1] New Orleans Zephyrs Herschel Greer Stadium [45]
2006 Ben Hendrickson ND (L)3–5 Omaha Royals Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium [46]
2007 Zach Jackson (1)L1–4 New Orleans Zephyrs Herschel Greer Stadium [47]
2008 Zach Jackson (2)L2–5 New Orleans Zephyrs Zephyr Field [48]
2009 Sam Narron ND (L)5–7 New Orleans Zephyrs Herschel Greer Stadium [49]
2010 Kameron Loe W6–3 Iowa Cubs Principal Park [50]
2011Amaury RivasW5–1 New Orleans Zephyrs Herschel Greer Stadium [51]
2012 Wily Peralta ND (L)2–6 New Orleans Zephyrs Zephyr Field [52]
2013 Tyler Thornburg ND (W)5–4 New Orleans Zephyrs Herschel Greer Stadium [12]
2014 Johnny Hellweg W4–2 Omaha Storm Chasers Werner Park [53]
2015 Chris Bassitt L5–7 Colorado Springs Sky Sox Security Service Field [54]
2016 Chris Smith L0–5 Oklahoma City Dodgers First Tennessee Park [13]
2017 Daniel Gossett ND (L)1–2 (11) Round Rock Express Dell Diamond [55]
2018 James Naile W11–0 New Orleans Baby Cakes Shrine on Airline [56]
2019 Taylor Hearn L4–5 Iowa Cubs First Tennessee Park [57]
2020Season cancelled [n 2] Iowa Cubs First Horizon Park [60]
2021 Josh Lindblom ND (L)6–8 Toledo Mud Hens Fifth Third Field [61]
2022 Ethan Small ND (W)5–4 Durham Bulls First Horizon Park [62]
2023 Caleb Boushley ND (W)3–1 (8) [n 3] Louisville Bats First Horizon Park [64]
2024 Carlos Rodríguez (1)L2–4 Toledo Mud Hens Fifth Third Field [65]
2025 Carlos Rodríguez (2)W7–1 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp First Horizon Park [66]

Notes

  1. ↑ The April 7, 2005, Opening Day game was called after six innings due to rain. [44]
  2. ↑ The April 9, 2020, Opening Day game was postponed and ultimately cancelled along with the entire season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [58] [59]
  3. ↑ The April 1, 2023, Opening Day game was played as part of a seven-inning doubleheader after the originally scheduled March 31 opener was postponed due to severe weather forecast for that evening. [63]

References

  1. ↑ "Nashville Sounds Yearly Results". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Pacific Coast League Special Award Winners". Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "Top 100 Teams". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (March 22, 2010). "Marcum Tapped for Jays' Opening Day". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ Dilbeck, Steve (February 24, 2014). "Dodgers May Not Start Clayton Kershaw in Sydney". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Seely, Chad; Brooks, Peter; Scopel, Doug (2021). 2021 Nashville Sounds Media Guide (PDF). pp. 170–171. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021– via Minor League Baseball.
  9. 1 2 Traughber, Bill (June 3, 2013). "Looking Back: Sounds First Games In 1978". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Most Outstanding Pitchers". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Sounds Nip Barons 8–7". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 10, 1981. p. 23. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "Zephyrs vs. Sounds Box Score 04/04/13". Minor League Baseball. April 4, 2013. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Dodgers vs. Sounds Box Score 04/07/16". Pacific Coast League. Minor League Baseball. April 8, 2015. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals Box Score, April 9, 1990". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  15. ↑ "San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, April 4, 2016". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Box Score, April 1, 2021". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Sounds". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 16, 1978. p. 6-D. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Sounds Fall". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 17, 1979. p. 20. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Sounds Fall". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 12, 1980. p. 25. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Bimingham, Nashville". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 10, 1981. p. 28. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Southern League". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 10, 1982. p. 12. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Nashville, Orlando". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 9, 1983. p. 4-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Sounds-Twins". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 10, 1984. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Sounds 3, Bisons 1". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 12, 1985. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Sounds 6, Indians 3". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 12, 1986. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Sounds 8, Royals 4". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 11, 1987. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Sounds 7, Indians 6". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 8, 1988. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Indians 4, Sounds 2". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 6, 1989. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Royals 8, Sounds 6". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 7, 1990. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Sounds 2, Royals 1". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 11, 1991. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Zephyrs 6, Sounds 2". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 10, 1992. p. 8-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Sounds 8, Cubs 5". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 9, 1993. p. 2-C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Sounds 10, 89ers 4". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 8, 1994. p. 5C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ "Sounds 6, Bisions 3". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 8, 1995. p. 6C. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Bisons 8, Sounds 5". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 5, 1996. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ "Bisons 4, Sounds 3 (11)". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 5, 1997. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ "Cubs 7, Sounds 2". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 8, 1998. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Nashville 7, Edmonton 0". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 9, 1999. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  39. ↑ "Sounds 10, Omaha 5". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 7, 2000. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ "Redbirds 3, Sounds 2". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. April 5, 2001. p. D6. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  41. ↑ "River Cats 12, Sounds 6". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 6, 2002. p. 5C. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  42. ↑ "Sounds 5, Cubs 4". The Tennessean. Nashville. April 4, 2003. p. 7C. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ↑ Patton, Maurice (April 9, 2004). "Sounds Lose Opener Before Large Crowd". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 5C. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ↑ Patton, Maurice (April 8, 2005). "Sounds LGet Quick Win". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1C. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  45. ↑ "Zephyrs vs. Sounds Box Score 04/07/05". Minor League Baseball. April 7, 2005. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Sounds vs. Royals Box Score 04/07/06". Minor League Baseball. April 7, 2006. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Zephyrs vs. Sounds Box Score 04/05/07". Minor League Baseball. April 5, 2007. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Sounds vs. Zephyrs Box Score 04/03/08". Minor League Baseball. April 3, 2008. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Zephyrs vs. Sounds Box Score 04/09/09". Minor League Baseball. April 9, 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Sounds vs. Cubs Box Score 04/08/10". Minor League Baseball. April 8, 2010. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Zephyrs vs. Sounds Box Score 04/07/11". Minor League Baseball. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Sounds vs. Zephyrs Box Score 04/05/12". Minor League Baseball. April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Sounds vs. Storm Chasers Box Score 04/04/14". Minor League Baseball. April 4, 2014. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Sounds vs. Sky Sox Box Score 04/09/15". Minor League Baseball. April 9, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Sounds vs. Express Box Score 04/06/17". Minor League Baseball. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  56. ↑ "Sounds vs. Baby Cakes Box Score 04/05/18". Minor League Baseball. April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Cubs vs. Sounds Box Score 04/04/19". Minor League Baseball. April 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  58. ↑ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. May 18, 2020. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  59. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  60. ↑ "2020 Schedule" (PDF). Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  61. ↑ "Sounds vs. Mud Hens Wrapup 05/04/21". Minor League Baseball. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Bulls 4, Sounds 5 (Final Score)". Minor League Baseball. April 5, 2022. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Nashville Sounds Opening Night Game With Louisville Postponed". Nashville Sounds. Minor League Baseball. March 31, 2023. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024.
  64. ↑ "Bats 1, Sounds 3 Final Score". Minor League Baseball. April 1, 2023. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Gameday: Sounds 2, Mud Hens 4 Final Score)". Minor League Baseball. March 29, 2024. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  66. ↑ "Gameday: Jumbo Shrimp 1, Sounds 7 Final Score". Minor League Baseball. March 28, 2025. Archived from the original on March 29, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.

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