Big things from Bido in '25? A's see 'frontline' potential?

MESA, Ariz. -- While fielding questions from reporters during the first week of Spring Training, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay could not contain his smile when the subject of Osvaldo Bido came up.

“I like that he kind of flew under the radar,” Kotsay said. “You look at those numbers and they’re pretty impressive. I’m excited about Bido’s opportunity here and the impact he could have. … I think this kid can be an impact frontline starter.”

Bido’s small sample size was an attractive one. In 16 games (nine starts) last season, he posted a 3.41 ERA. His month of August was on par with the best pitchers in baseball, as he went 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .143 batting average in five starts.

The underlying numbers are what really excited the A’s. From the time Bido moved into the rotation full-time on July 23 until his final start on Sept. 2, he recorded a 3.56 ERA with a 3.14 K/BB ratio over 43 innings across eight starts. Among pitchers who faced at least 150 batters in that time, Bido ranked sixth in xBA (.188) and seventh in xwOBA (.256) allowed.

Bido’s Statcast page was also off the charts. Among qualified Major League pitchers in 2024, he ranked in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate (27%), 99th percentile in average exit velocity (85.6 mph), 93rd percentile in barrel rate (4.3%) and 94th percentile in xERA (2.72).

“He’s got really good weapons,” A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson said of Bido. “Now it’s making his arsenal consistent. Knowing that he’s throwing a sweeper and not a cutter. When it comes up cutter on the scoreboard, he knows he didn’t get the ball to sweep. It’s all about defining his arsenal and who he is and what he does, because he’s already a great competitor. … I like the work ethic, I like the competitiveness and the shape of his pitches right now.”

As Bido, who tossed two scoreless innings and struck out four in his Cactus League debut against the Royals in a 1-1 tie on Monday at Surprise Stadium, continues honing those tools, he is learning from someone who knows what it’s like to be in that position in newcomer Luis Severino.

Throughout spring, whenever Bido has thrown a bullpen or live BP, Severino has stood in on every session. He attentively watches Bido and makes himself available for advice whenever needed.

“Having Sevy here as someone he can relate to is huge,” Kotsay said. “There’s a certain element of family when you’re born and raised in a country like [the Dominican Republic]. It’s something I appreciate and respect. You can see their family bond in terms of trying to help each other. … I could see that relationship blossoming into something really special.”

A veteran of nine big league seasons, Severino was once the young pitcher coming off a brilliant first half-season with the Yankees that generated lofty expectations for the next year. And while they may not have had similar paths as professionals -- Severino reached the Majors in 2015 as a 21-year-old while Bido was a late-bloomer who debuted at age 27 for the Pirates in 2023 -- Severino is reminded of a younger version of himself when he watches Bido.

“He’s a guy with a lot of talent, and I think he still has room to get even better,” Severino told MLB.com in Spanish. “That’s why I’m always watching his bullpens and live BPs. To see what I can share with him from what I know or what I’ve learned over my time in the big leagues. We’re always playing catch and pausing to see if I can help work on his mechanics, glove position, secondary pitches, small things like that. To see what a tremendous talent he is is incredible.”

Translating a sample of success over a full season will be a challenge, but Bido will get a chance to do so as he enters spring as a likely lock for the rotation behind Severino, JP Sears and Jeffrey Springs. Getting that same version of the right-hander they had last year would certainly go a long way in helping the A’s reach their playoff-contending goals for 2025.

“The numbers were pretty impressive,” Kotsay said. “If we can get a full season of that, I think Bido has that ability of frontline stuff. We just want to watch this thing unfold for him in the way we all hope.”