PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Brandan Bidois could be the first Australian to ever play in a game for the Pirates Tuesday night. The right-hander called up as right-hander Cam Sanders was optioned to the minors.
“I’m not just representing myself, I’m representing my people, my coaches, my family and everyone that has come before me and gone to be after me,” Bidois said in the Pirates clubhouse Tuesday. “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 24-year-old said he was sitting at home in Indianapolis on his bed and got a call that he was going to the big leagues.
“Instant tears, emotions gone through the roof,” Bidois said. “Getting through that phone call, decided to call the family back home and then even more tears. An exciting moment, super grateful, honored.”
Bidois started at Low A Bradenton last year and rose to AAA Indianapolis going a full month and a half with a streak of 18 hitless innings in 11 appearances. That equated to facing 64 batters without allowing a hit. The MLB record for consecutive hitless innings is 24 by Cy Young in 1904. Red Sox Dennis Eckersley had 21 innings in 1977.
“All of it, the fastball,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said of Bidois stuff. “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.”
Overall last season, Bidois went 8-0 with a 0.74 ERA, 61 innings, 0.80 WHIP, .110 batting average against with 27 walks and 69 strikeouts. This year in AAA, 3-2, 7.20 ERA, 15 appearances, 15 innings, 9 walks, 23 strikeouts, 1.67 WHIP.
Sanders, 29, pitched in five games this year-five innings, six hits, six runs, five walks and seven strikeouts.
Bucs optioned reliever Cam Sanders
Bucs optioned reliever Cam Sanders
