Pittsburgh Pirates sign Aussie teen baseballer Brandan Bidois for US Major League Baseball

Years of playing in his backyard with his brother Nick has paid off for Pine Hills Lightning baseballer Brandan Bidois who has signed with US Major League Baseball organisation the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Years of playing in his backyard with his brother Nick has paid off for Pine Hills Lightning baseballer Brandan Bidois who has signed with US Major League Baseball organisation the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 18-year-old pitcher raised the eyebrow of talent scouts earlier this year after he had an impressive under 18 World Cup where he helped Australia to a fourth-place.

Bidois will start at rookie-league level but is on track to fulfilling his dream of playing Major-league Baseball.

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He said during his career he had been helped along by “many amazing people’’, but specifically his brother Nick had been a major influence “early on in my journey’’.

Bidois recalled “all the time and effort we put in at the field and wiffle ball (variation of baseball) in the backyard’’.

Pine Hills Lightning baseballer Brandan Bidois. Photo: SMPIMAGES.COM / Baseball Australia.

He said coaches Nick Bachono and Nev Brockie, who had mentored him since the ages 12-17, had also been cornerstones of his development.

“They gave me everything I could’ve needed to be successful both on the field and off.’’

He left for the USA last week for a pre-season tour and will return full-time next season for extended spring training.

“Ever since I first picked up a baseball I knew this was what I wanted,’’ Bidois said.

“I knew that with patience and hard work one day I would get the opportunity.’’

He said his career really ramped up earlier this year at the World Cup which sparked interest in him.

“I knew that if I kept working hard it was just around the corner,’’ he said.

“I think for myself the reason for the deal was just giving myself the opportunity to be at the right place at the right time and the World Cup was definitely the right place.

“I was able to put myself in that position purely on the behind the scenes work I put in.’’

Bidois’recruitment to the Pittsburgh Pirates is a lesson for junior baseballers that dreams can come true.

Brandan Bidois as a child playing in the David Nilsson Little League baseball state titles for North Brisbane. Photo By Patria Jannides

The 18-year-old started his career aged four years at the Pine Rivers Rapids and then progressed to Narangba Demons, Windsor Royals before settling at Pine Hills.

Baseball Australia performance pathways and athlete development general manager Glenn Williams was excited to see Bidois given a chance in the States where Williams played in the big league himself.

“Brandan did an amazing job in Korea which was a culmination of a lot of hard work over a number of years,’’ Williams said.

“It’s great to see young Aussies getting the chance to live out their childhood dreams and I hope that Brandan and his family get to enjoy this moment with everyone who has contributed to it.”