SANTO DOMINGO, RD. – Dominican star pitcher Luis Severino has been chosen to pitch on Opening Day for the Oakland Athletics, marking the start of the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
The news was confirmed by manager Mark Kotsay, who places his trust in the right-hander’s experience for the game against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 25 at the Rogers Centre.
This will be the second consecutive time Severino opens Opening Day with the Athletics and the third in his career, solidifying himself as a fundamental pillar in the team’s rotation.
Severino’s performance in the 2025 season showed ups and downs, with an 8-11 record, a 4.54 ERA, and 124 strikeouts in 162.2 innings pitched. However, he demonstrated a promising season finish after the All-Star Game, accumulating a 6-0 record with a 3.10 ERA.
A notable aspect of his performance was his performance as a visitor, where he showed greater dominance with an effectiveness of 3.02, compared to his results at home.
Dominican Presence on Opening Day
Severino joins a select group of Dominican pitchers who will also start on Opening Day, including Freddy Peralta (Mets), José Soriano (Angels), and Sandy Alcántara (Marlins).
Furthermore, the right-hander solidified his reputation as a veteran after his participation with the Dominican Republic national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he was a key piece in the pitching staff led by Albert Pujols.
With this designation, Severino takes on the challenge of leading from the mound at the start of the season, with the goal of propelling the Athletics towards a successful start in the 2026 campaign.
