Luis Severino to make Opening Day start for A’s

The Athletics have named right-handed pitcher Luis Severino as its Opening Day starter for next Thursday’s season-opener against the Seattle Mariners.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay broke the news this week, adding that the team is “really excited” about handing the ball to Severino.

“Breaking news,” Kotsay said of Severino taking the ball on Opening Day during a media session with reporters in Arizona. “Sevy will take the mound for us in Seattle on the 27th. This is a player we targeted this offseason as someone who can come in here and have an impact on and off the field. We’re really excited about that.”

FIRST LOOK: Luis Severino as an Athletic pic.twitter.com/Ipa9s45T60

— MLB (@MLB) February 20, 2025

About Athletics ace Luis Severino

Luis Severino, who inked a record-breaking three-year, $67 million deal–the largest guarantee in the history of the A’s franchise, surpassing a six-year, $66 million extension for Eric Chavez that was signed in 2004–arrived at the Kimpton-Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento to don the green and gold for the very first time.

Following a nine-year stint in New York that featured eight seasons with the Yankees and one with the Mets, Severino is heading West and into the unknown as the A’s navigate through unchartered waters.

Adding talent in free agency isn’t something that the A’s typically do, but following whispers that the franchise was feeling pressure to reach the $100 million mark in roster salary, they made the first surprising move of their offseason by signing the two-time All-Star in Severino to a multi-year deal.

“It meant a lot for my family. I thank the A’s for the opportunity to be here,” Severino said when asked about his new contract back in December. “I’m going to give 100 percent and be the person, teammate, and pitcher I can be. I’m excited to see what we can do. In the end, it’s about playing baseball.”

For Severino, a 30-year-old who went 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA and 161 strikeouts over 182 innings pitched during the 2024 season with the New York Mets, the signing acts as a fresh start–one that also puts him at the top of a major-league pitching staff following years of injury issues.

The Dominican Republic product took the mound in 31 games this past season, his first campaign with 30 or more starts since 2018.

Now, Severino will be the ace of an A’s pitching staff that finished the 2024 season with a team ERA of 4.37 (25th in Major League Baseball).

Not only will Luis Severino be the Athletics’ Opening Day starter in Seattle, but he will also be one of the franchise’s faces —along with Silver Slugger Award-winning outfielder Brent Rooker and hard-hitting catcher Shea Langiliers—during a transitional period for the franchise in Sacramento.

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The Athletics are seeing an exorbitant increase in ticket sales ahead of their inaugural season in Sacramento.

According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, ticket sales for the A’s are “12 times greater” than one year ago as the regular-season opener nears.

StubHub, the authorized ticket marketplace of Major League Baseball, quoted Nightengale’s report with another fact about the Athletics’ impressive ticket sales:

During their final season in Oakland, the A’s reported attendance was 922,286 in 2024—an average of 11,528 per game.

For at least the next three seasons, the Athletics will call Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento their home. The stadium has a seating capacity of 14,014 (including standing room and lawn seating).

Season ticket sales have already sold out for the A’s, while you can purchase single-game tickets for this season’s action at Sutter Health Park by clicking here.

The inaugural A’s game in Sacramento will be held on Monday, March 31st, at Sutter Health Park.

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Frankie Cartoscelli Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Author Name: Franklin Cartoscelli Bio: Franklin 'Frankie' Cartoscelli is Sactown Sports 1140's Lead Editor, Sacramento Kings beat writer and co-host of the Return of the Roar podcast. Professional Background: Worked in professional sports… Read more