Red Sox young hurler hoping to get the start on Opening Day
Brayan Bello is heading to Fort Myers after Winter Weekend to get to work ahead of the 2024 season
The Red Sox currently don’t have an ace to lead their rotation.
Boston does have a young talent right-handed pitcher in Brayan Bello who wants to take another step forward and be the club’s Opening Day starter on March 28 in Seattle.
The 24-year-old is coming off his first full season in the Majors and told reporters at Winter Weekend he’s focused on getting that start.
“Yeah, after this Winter Weekend, I’m going straight to Florida to get ready to try to compete for that spot,” Bello said. “Even if I don't get the Opening Day start, I want to be out there as the first or second starter. So yeah, that's my mentality, to compete for the top level in the rotation.”
The Red Sox have had aces in the past in the likes of Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, Josh Lester, Chris Sale, Josh Beckett and Nathan Eovaldi.
With Sale now in Atlanta, following a trade this offseason, Boston is looking for someone to take the next steps and lead the rotation.
“I think that's a goal that pretty much every starter [has] is to try to compete for that, or to throw the first day, Opening Day,” said Bello. “And that's one of the goals that I have for my career, not only this year but for years to come, to try to be that No. 1 pitcher in the Boston organization, and that's why I want to compete for that spot.”
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Boston has Lucas Giolito who they signed in December and he has pitched like an ace in years past with the White Sox. Nick Pivetta pitched strong at the end of last season and could be another candidate to take the ball on Opening Day.
Bello knows he needs to work hard and earn the opportunity to get the start in Seattle. Following Winter Weekend in Springfield, Bello is headed to Fort Myers to get to work and begin his quest to leading the Sox rotation.
“After this weekend, I’m going to Florida to compete for that spot … that’s my mentality, to compete at the top level of the rotation,” Bello said. “I think that’s a goal pretty much every starter has, to throw on opening day. That’s one of the goals that I have for my career.”
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