Brandan Bidois was waiting for the call that would allow him to make his major league debut, so he got his hopes up every time the bullpen phone rang at PNC Park.
“Every time, your heart just kind of drops and sinks out of your stomach,” Bidois said. “That first one is never easy. Your heart’s racing. Everything’s going a million miles an hour.”
The 24-year-old right-handed reliever became the first Australian to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates — and 40th in MLB history — when he entered the game in the eighth inning Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies.
Bidois allowed one run on two hits, including a solo home run, in the 14-pitch inning that capped an incredible journey. After switching from infielder to pitcher-only, Bidois signed as an undrafted international free agent out of Brisbane for a reported $10,000 bonus in September 2019.
He followed in the footsteps of his 33-year-old brother, Nicholas, a former second baseman who played rookie ball for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2009. When he enters a game, Brandan draws an “N” in the dirt on the mound in honor of his biggest baseball supporter.
“I’ve been dreaming of this day since I was 3,” Bidois said before Wednesday’s game. “It was something I’ve wanted as long as I can remember. Me and my brother talked about it for years and years. I’m not up on the mound alone. He’s my hero on the baseball side of things. He provided the pathway and the mentorship. I’m blessed.”
Brandan Bidois made his mark last season when he won the Pirates’ Kent Tekulve reliever of the year award after going 8-0 with a 0.74 ERA — lowest in all of the minor leagues — an 0.80 WHIP and eight saves in 40 appearances across four levels.
Sidetracked by Tommy John surgery in 2023, Bidois started last season at Low-A Bradenton and completed it at Triple-A Indianapolis. He faced 64 consecutive batters without allowing a hit over a stretch from July 29 to Sept. 9. The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster in November, and Bidois made a bid for the Opening Day roster with three scoreless appearances in spring training.
“He punched out a lot of guys. The fastball is electric; offspeed is good. When he’s in the zone, he’s tough to hit,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Anytime you see the stuff and the way he was able to move up the ladder, for me, to get to see him in spring for the first time live, it was impressive stuff.”
Yet Bidois endured some low points at Indianapolis, posting a 7.20 ERA and 1.67 WHP with 23 strikeouts, nine walks and three home runs allowed in 15 innings over 15 appearances.
During his struggles, Bidois turned to veteran reliever Chris Devenski for support. Devenski advised him to be willing to make adjustments, continue to challenge himself and use an attack mentality.
“He has no fear and goes right after guys,” Devenski said. “I’m very excited for him. I think he’s in a good place.”
Bidois considers the adversity he endured a privilege, which made receiving and sharing word of his promotion even more memorable. The call from Indianapolis manager Eric Paterson informing him that he was headed to the majors was met with “instant tears, emotions gone through the roof,” Bidois said. That early afternoon call prompted Brandan to call home to his mother, Sharon, at 3 a.m., Brisbane time.
“No, she wasn’t awake. I had to wake her up,” Bidois said, with a laugh. “She woke the whole house up screaming; everyone was going crazy. It’s cool. Super exciting time.”
Sharon flew across the world to see Brandan’s debut, spending time with him on the field before the game for their first time together in two years. Bidois said he was “super grateful” for the opportunity to realize his big league dreams, carrying the hopes of his country with him.
“I’m not just representing myself. I’m representing my people, my coaches, my family and everyone that has come before me and going to be after me,” Bidois said. “We have a small group that plays baseball, and I know it’s growing exponentially every single year, and I just want to continue to help provide a pathway and ways to grow the game over there.”
The Pirates were trailing, 6-4, when Bidois replaced lefty Evan Sisk in the eighth inning against the Rockies. Bidois couldn’t help but glance at the 38,747-seat stadium, the biggest park he’s pitched in.
“It was hard not to look up every now and again and just see where I am,” Bidois said, “but I went out with the job, and I feel like I did it.”
Kelly noted that it was a “tough lane” for Bidois to face Colorado’s Nos. 2-4 hitters. Mickey Moniak hit his second pitch, a slider, for a leadoff double to right field and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Freeman before Pirates catcher Henry Davis picked off Moniak at third.
Bidois threw two of the top three pitch velocities of the game against TJ Rumfield, hitting 97.9 mph and then 98.6 with his four-seam fastball. But Rumfield sent his seventh pitch 415 feet to right field for a solo home run. Bidois got Troy Johnston to fly out to left to finish the frame.
“I thought he threw the ball well,” Kelly said. “He’s got really good stuff, and I think that we saw what he’s capable of doing: throwing in the upper 90s and that slider is really legit.”
While Bidois admitted that he was tense, he felt good about his debut and promised to go back out and get different results in his next outing.
“Especially, first Australian to play for the Pirates, what he’s gone through, the season that he had last year was really, really impressive,” Kelly said. “You got to see why tonight, with the elite stuff that he’s got. Excited to see him get some more opportunities.”