Nick Pivetta on last season: ‘I think I took some steps forward’
Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta saw a resurgence last season after struggling earlier on, being demoted to the bullpen and then dominated as a starter to close out the year.
Pivetta opened the season with a grotesque 6.30 ERA. After shifting to a bulk relief role at the start of the summer, the Red Sox righty excelled on the mound.
As a reliever, Pivetta went 5-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 22 appearances while striking out 12.6 batters per nine innings. He would often follow the opener, offering Alex Cora starter-like innings out of the bullpen.
“I think I took some steps forward last year,” Pivetta told reporters on Winter Weekend. “I learned a lot of things. I’m excited just being here with the guys.”
The Sox need innings eaters and starters to anchor down the rotation in 2024 and beyond. Pivetta has shown he’s healthy, can take the ball every fifth day and could be a very valuable middle of the rotation starter moving forward.
“He’s become one of the best pitchers in the big leagues the last [three] and a half months,” Cora said. “He’s grown so much, matured so much. He understands the whole team concept. He really likes it here. And it’s something that he’s been loud and clear about it. He loves it here. He loves the atmosphere.”
Pivetta is looking to build off his strong performance last season by adding a new sweeper to his pitching arsenal.
“I’ve been working on the sweeper all offseason,” Pivetta said. “For that pitch, it will progress as games get going. It takes that intensity and adrenaline to get going and make that pitch do a certain thing. It’s using my arsenal as a whole, establishing the strike zone early, and using my pitches separately to righties and lefties.”
Pivetta will get to work under new pitching coach Andrew Bailey and director of pitching development Justin Willard. Pivetta has made it clear he wants to start for the Red Sox. Based off their pitching depth and MLB ready arms, he should start barring an injury.
“Going through last year, there’s a lot of facets of the game and to help a team compete and win,” Pivetta said. “That’s my biggest goal, whatever it happens to be. Everybody knows I prefer to start. I prefer to win, at the end of the day.”
Boston will be relying to Lucas Giolito and Nick Pivetta to be two leaders on the pitching staff.
“I look forward to it a lot,” Pivetta explained. “I was fortunate enough to have a lot of good veterans, both in (Philadelphia) and when I came over here with the Red Sox. I look to provide as much experience in helping these guys be who they want to be.”
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisHenrique
For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.
