The Mets confirmed on Sunday that Johan Santana will start for the team on Opening Day. Santana, who last threw a pitch in a major league game on Sept. 2, 2010, will start opposite Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson on Thursday at Citi Field. He underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder 12 days after that last major league pitch. "It means everything that we have done since I had my surgery, all the way to today, has been paid off," the left-hander said. "We worked hard. And I'm very happy. I'm very happy that I have an opportunity to start the season from Day 1 with the team. That's something that I really was looking forward to. I'm excited about it."