Cubs manager David Ross named Kyle Hendricks his 2020 Opening Day starter on Thursday.
Hendricks, 30, will take the mound against the Brewers on July 24 at Wrigley Field. Yu Darvish will follow and start the Cubs' second game.
"He was up to 75 pitches the other day," Ross said Thursday of Hendricks' last intrasquad outing. "He’s further along than any of our starters and it just makes sense for the work that he’s put in and his resume as well as he’s the one that's ready.
"I’ve had that in my mind for a little while but I didn’t want to jump the gun."
2020 will be the first Opening Day start of Hendricks' career. He said he's excited to start playing meaningful games and Ross placing his trust in him means a "ton."
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"Obviously, I thanked him over and over but it's on me now to come through for that, Hendricks said. "I put in a lot of hard work, not only this past offseason but during the time off, quarantine, changing my routine workout wise so I feel stronger than ever before.
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"I want to be that guy for my team. Just to be out there, take the ball every fifth day and go deep, go deep in games and eat up innings.
Hendricks has been steady for the Cubs over the last six seasons, holding a career 3.14 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He's been good against the Brewers in his career, sporting a 3.08 ERA in 21 career starts.
"When you talk about everything that Kyle encompasses, one, his resume, the big games he’s already pitched in and the way he’s carried himself and handled himself in those big games," Ross said. "You look back on just the length of his career.
"I remember when I first got here the narrative was he couldn’t go through the lineup three times, which makes me laugh now."