In the sun-drenched fields of Mesa, Arizona, Luis Severino is gearing up for an experience he's long anticipated. Having soaked in the electric atmosphere of the World Baseball Classic as a fan, he's now set to feel that energy from the mound. In just under two weeks, Severino will don the jersey of Team Dominican Republic, marking his debut in this prestigious tournament after a decade-long MLB career.
"I'm really excited," Severino shared with a grin. "The energy in Miami is going to be off the charts. Competing there is going to be something special."
Severino isn't alone in this international journey. He leads a group of eight players from the A’s Spring Training who will soon depart to represent their nations.
Joining him is fellow Dominican, Elvis Alvarado, alongside others like Wei-En Lin and Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang for Chinese Taipei, Darell Hernaiz and Carlos Cortes for Puerto Rico, Denzel Clarke for Canada, and Joey Meneses for Mexico. True to his competitive nature, Severino has already engaged in some playful banter with his teammates, especially aiming some good-natured trash talk at Clarke.
"I told Clarke he’s got no chance against me," Severino laughed. "It'd be a blast to face off against each other."
Severino's preparation for the WBC is already in full swing, and his recent performance in the Cactus League is proof. Starting for the A’s in a matchup against the Guardians, the 32-year-old right-hander delivered two scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just a hit and a walk. His fastball was clocking in at an impressive average of 96.9 mph, peaking at 97.8 mph, a step up from his 2025 average.
"Usually, I don't start games this early," Severino noted. "Getting in the groove now and having another game before the Classic is going to be beneficial."
Even with 11 years in the big leagues, Severino treats spring as a lab for refining his craft. He debuted a modified delivery and has been experimenting with a new changeup grip, which showed promise with one whiff in four attempts.
"I’ve been working on a different changeup grip," Severino explained. "My arm action feels improved from last year, and I'm focusing on staying back and not rushing. By the end of Spring Training, I hope to feel more confident with these adjustments."
For the A’s, Severino is a linchpin in their playoff aspirations. Likely to be their ace once again, his performance will be crucial in complementing what is expected to be one of the league’s top offenses.
"We have a young, talented team," Severino said. "If we can elevate our pitching this year, it'll take us to a whole new level."