A New Chapter for Brayan Bello
In Fort Myers, Florida, the spring training games provided an opportunity for players to refine their skills without the pressure of regular-season stakes. For Brayan Bello, a key member of the Boston Red Sox pitching staff, this season’s early games offered a chance to recalibrate and showcase his growth.
Bello’s first inning of the 2026 spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays was less than ideal. He struggled with control, allowing four earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out just one of the first five batters. However, thanks to the flexible nature of spring training rules, he was given another opportunity. Manager Alex Cora pulled him after only one out, but when the Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the first, Bello returned to the mound.
His second inning was a stark contrast to the first. Bello demonstrated more aggression, attacking hitters with precision. He worked around a leadoff double from Riley Tirotta and retired the next three batters in order with a strikeout, a line-out, and a groundout. This performance marked a significant improvement, as Bello used only 11 pitches to navigate the second inning after throwing 13 of 24 strikes in the first.
“I was more aggressive. I started attacking hitters more,” Bello said through team interpreter Carlos Villoria Benitez. “We worked on the things that we needed to work on, and the most important thing is every pitch was there and I felt good. … I was able to get first-pitch strikes, which was the goal of the day.”
Manager Cora was also impressed with Bello’s approach. “I really liked the last three hitters,” Cora said. “He’s working on a few things, getting ahead, using the changeup. But he got hit around, and then he’s like, ‘OK let me pitch,’ and he was more aggressive the last three hitters. That’s something we’re going to take for the next one, and keep getting better.”
Expanding His Repertoire
Bello led his “good outing” with his sinker (40%) and changeup (17%), mixing in the cutter, four-seam fastball, and sweeper. He even threw his new curveball twice, which elicited a surprising reaction from Blue Jays right-fielder Jesús Sánchez.
“It was a very good one, and he laughed as well, at the pitch,” Bello said. “I just threw the pitch and he laughed. … I don’t really know (why). I think that we both enjoy the game, we’re both happy to be here and we just shared that moment.”
Four years into his major league career, Bello feels the curveball will help him unlock a new level of his game. “I’m gonna start throwing it more often,” Bello said of his new pitch. “Today I felt comfortable throwing it with two strikes and also to get a swing-and-miss. And I think that from now on that’s a pitch I’m going to rely on, and because I’m able to command it as well. … I feel like it’s been a little bit (of) a challenge facing lefties in the previous years, and I feel like with these two new pitches I’m able to compete a little bit better against lefties.”
Overcoming Challenges
Bello came off a career year in 2025, posting a 3.35 ERA — 89 points better than his previous best in 2023 — over 166 2/3 innings. However, behind the scenes, he faced challenges with his arsenal. In 2025, he deployed five pitches, but as he honed two new ones, the changeup, his stalwart and perhaps most crucial weapon, became an unintended casualty. The result was a career-high innings pitched but over 200 fewer changeups than in each of his previous two seasons.
“Last year I was working on adding a cutter, a sweeper, so I lost the feeling for the changeup,” Bello said. “And this year I have both of those pitches locked in for me, so I was able to go back and work on the changeup.”
Bello and Cora were pleased with how the changeup played Sunday. “I’m very happy because I think I was very consistent with it, and also it had a lot of depth, a lot of movement, and that’s one of things that I wanted to work, and I’ve been working on, on the past few months,” Bello said. “Throwing to lefties, righties, and at any count, and I think today we were able to take a step forward with that pitch.”
Looking Ahead
If Bello was able to achieve that level of success last year without firm command of his changeup, imagine what he’ll be able to do this season. It’s easy to forget, too, that this righty who debuted when he was 23 and doesn’t turn 27 until May 17 is one of the longer-tenured pitchers on the staff. There have been growing pains and adjustments, both personally and professionally, but Bello feels everything is starting to come together.
“Last year I was battling with two or three pitches, I didn’t have my changeup, and I was able to have the season that I had,” Bello said. “I feel like this year for me, coming in camp feeling healthy, having the curveball and having the changeup back, which is one of my best pitches, I think I’m going to have a better season. Also I’m more experienced, more maturity, so I feel like for me, having that repertoire and adding the experience and maturity, I think that’s going to be the recipe for a good season.”
