This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola's Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MIAMI -- Whether you’re Marlins left-hander Jesús Luzardo or manager Skip Schumaker, Opening Day never gets old. With all the pageantry, it’s hard not to get butterflies.

In the case of Luzardo, today’s Opening Day assignment -- the first of his career -- is a special one because he will be doing so for the hometown club. More than 65 family members and friends will be in attendance as Luzardo faces the Pirates at loanDepot park.

• Opening Day FAQ: Pirates vs. Marlins

Below, a handful of Marlins share either their favorite Opening Day memories or expectations:

“Opening Day as a whole. You see the big American flag in center field. You have the flyovers. You get the intros. It's just something that I feel like -- even as a kid -- it'd make your hair stand up, give you goosebumps, and I feel like I still feel that now.” -- Luzardo

“I think there's a number of [them]. Your very first Opening Day. For me, it was in St. Louis. Watching the Clydesdales go around and all the Hall of Famers, I think that was a pretty special moment, and kind of feeling that you ‘made it.’ Obviously, the [hometown] L.A. one in 2013. And then last year for me being a first-year manager and running down the line and high-fiving all the players and then standing by yourself at home plate waiting for [Luis] Arraez to come. I think there's a number of special moments, and again, that's why I think Opening Day is so special.” -- Schumaker

“Pitching without fans was something. I believe it's better pitching with fans. The adrenaline, the strength that you get, the emotions of the fans is even better, and it's more exciting.” -- Right-hander Sixto Sánchez via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. on the expected atmosphere. Sánchez, who hasn’t pitched since 2020, took the mound at empty ballparks because of the COVID-19 pandemic

“If I see my family there, I need to do something good for them.” -- Arraez on his parents, Ernesto and Maria, who are expected to be in attendance

“I did Opening Day in '22. I actually got called up right before Opening Day. [In] '23, I wasn't there for it. So I got to experience it in Detroit [with the White Sox] in '22, and that was really special. What's going to be even cooler is going to St, Louis for the first time, and it's Opening Day [there on April 4]. It'll be the first time my grandpa gets to see me play in person, so I'm really, really excited for that.” -- Jake Burger