Most prolific D-backs Opening Day starters

Getting the starting nod on Opening Day remains an honor in Major League Baseball that is given to the team's best pitcher.

For the Diamondbacks, some years have been a no-brainer, while others have proven to be interesting decisions.

Here's a look at every Opening Day starter in Arizona history in order of how many starts they made:

Randy Johnson (6: 1999-2004)

During his first six seasons with the Diamondbacks (Johnson would return for a short stint from 2007-08) there was little doubt that the Big Unit was going to get the ball on Opening Day.

Johnson's best Opening Day start came in 2002, just months after he helped pitch Arizona to the World Series title. Johnson tossed a six-hit shutout while striking out eight as the Diamondbacks beat the Padres at home, 2-0.

Brandon Webb (4: 2006-09)

Webb remains one of the more underappreciated Diamondbacks players due to an injury-shortened career, but his rise from an unheralded prospect to Cy Young Award winner is an amazing story.

Webb got his first Opening Day start in 2006, the same season in which he won the Cy Young. He finished second in the balloting each of the next two seasons, but sadly his career was cut short due to an arm injury that he suffered after throwing four innings in the ‘09 opener. He was 29 years old and never threw another pitch in the big leagues after that.

Madison Bumgarner (3: 2020-22)

Bumgarner was a regular Opening Day starter for the Giants, and when the Diamondbacks signed him to a five-year, $85 million deal prior to the 2020 season, manager Torey Lovullo kept that going.

Bumgarner never lived up to his ace billing in his three years with the Diamondbacks, but given his stature, Lovullo continued to give him the ball in openers. His career came to an inglorious end when Arizona designated him for assignment during the ‘22 season.

Zac Gallen (3: 2023-25)

Gallen was one of GM Mike Hazen's best acquisitions, coming over from the Marlins at the 2019 Trade Deadline in exchange for Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Lovullo debated for a long time whether to start Gallen or newly signed veteran Corbin Burnes in the ‘25 opener. By the time he announced Gallen as his starter, the routine-oriented Burnes did not want to adjust his schedule and wound up pitching on the fifth day of the season.

Ian Kennedy (3: 2011-13)

Kennedy was acquired by the Diamondbacks prior to the 2010 season and started on Opening Day the following season in what would be a career year for him. The right-hander went 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA and a 137 ERA+ that year and started Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Brewers.

Zack Greinke (2: 2016-17)

The Diamondbacks shocked the baseball world when they signed Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million deal in the winter of 2015. He was coming off a year with the Dodgers in which he led all of baseball with a 1.66 ERA.

Greinke probably would have gotten the Opening Day nod in ‘18 had he not been slowed by a groin injury that spring.

The ‘One and Done’ Group

Andy Benes (1998), Javier Vazquez (2005), Dan Haren (2010), Wade Miley (2014), Josh Collmenter (2015) and Patrick Corbin (2018)

While Benes threw the first pitch in franchise history, the most interesting of the one-and-done Opening Day starters was Corbin, who nearly made three of them.

Corbin was scheduled to pitch Arizona's 2014 opener against the Dodgers in Sydney, Australia, but he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his final Spring Training outing and required Tommy John surgery.

Miley filled in for Corbin in Australia, and Corbin was still recovering from surgery when the ‘15 season rolled around so Collmenter got the start instead. Corbin was finally able to make an Opening Day start in ‘18.