Angel Bastardo is getting better for Greenville as the innings pile up
Angel Bastardo is getting better for Greenville as the innings pile up
During the 2023 campaign, the Red Sox’s minor league system has provided plenty of encouraging signs. While prospects such as Hunter Dobbins, Roman Anthony, and Ceddanne Rafaela have dominated headlines, others have taken their game to another level. One prospect that is quietly having an impressive season is Angel Bastardo.
The talented right-hander is ranked as the Red Sox’s No.29 best prospect by MLB.Com. In a career-high 91.2 innings of work for Greenville, Bastardo has posted a 3.93 ERA. Through 18 starts, opponents are hitting .209 against him. While the Venezuelan native has frustrated hitters, he is pitching deeper into games.
Additionally, Bastardo has seen a rise in his strikeout numbers. So far this season, he has struck out 125 batters after only recording 85 strikeouts in 22 starts during the 2022 campaign. Bastardo’s four-pitch mix has kept opponents off balance.
The 2019 International signee possesses a fastball that can reach 97 miles per hour. His best secondary pitch is a mid-80s changeup with some sink. He can also fool opponents with a curveball or slider. While he has struggled with control at times, he has shown improvement during July.
In five outings, Bastardo only walked seven batters. For the first time this season, he went a whole month without allowing a home run in a start. That was an encouraging sign considering that Bastardo had allowed a career-high seven home runs this season entering July. Like he has done all year, Bastardo is making adjustments when needed.
While his MLB debut is not expected to come until the 2025 season, Bastardo is excelling against advanced competition. If he can improve his control, he will no longer be flying under the radar. With a 2.89 ERA this month, Bastardo showed just how good he can be.
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