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WORCESTER — Brayan Bello continues to make progress in AAA.
In his third start with the Worcester since his demotion from the Boston earlier this month, due to struggles as a starting pitcher for the Red Sox this season, Bello pitched well for the WooSox in his 2026 Polar Park debut Thursday.
After telling media inside the Worcester dugout on June 7 that “I’m ready to do what I need to do down here so I can go back to the show. And you can imagine, (I) just want to be back up there,” Bello took another positive step forward in his possible return to the Red Sox.
The 27-year-old righty finished with a stat line of: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 5 strikeouts in Worcester’s 3-2 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens.
More: Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman joins 'Cassell's Corner' podcast
Bello threw 85 pitches for 54 strikes and, most importantly, had a clean first inning.
“When he’s at his best, and it’s kind of the case for everybody, but especially for him, even in years past, he is getting ahead frequently early,” DeLucia said. “And it feels like he’s being very aggressive in the zone, forcing hitters to swing early, resulting in favorable results. So, we’re trying to get him back there. He’s been great from a confidence standpoint, so that’s been good to see, too.”
Before being sent to Triple-A Worcester, Bello posted a 6.34 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 12 games this season with Boston. In eight starts, the right-hander allowed 41 earned runs in 35⅔ IP (10.35 ERA), but in his four bulk relief outings Bello gave up just two earned runs in 25⅓ IP (0.74 ERA).
On June 13, Bello made his first AAA appearance since April 11, 2025, when he made a rehab appearance coming off a right shoulder strain. Across four innings in a road game against Triple-A Rochester, Bello allowed five hits and two runs while striking out five and walking none.
Perhaps the most significant number from his first WooSox outing of the year was that Bello pitched a 1-2-3 first inning against the Red Wings. His struggles in the first inning were the main reason why Bello was sent to the minors earlier this month.
Then, on June 19, the righty registered his second start for the WooSox. This time, Bello ran into those first-inning problems that plagued him with Boston earlier this year.
“It can be the hardest thing for starters at times,” DeLucia said of the first-inning issues.
Bello gave up seven hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out five hitters. Bellow surrendered two runs in the first inning before giving up one final run and leaving the fifth inning with two outs.
DeLucia said they’ve been working on getting Bello to “flood the zone” and throw strikes early in the game while using his bullpen session in between starts to simulate real-game action with dummy hitters.
“Your stuff’s really good,” DeLucia said of Bello. “Your velocity’s been in a great spot. So really just harnessing through the catcher, middle of the plate and let his pitches move to the desired location.”
“Being able to pitch aggressively,” WooSox acting manager Iggy Suarez added. “… He’s all in on the work of getting better.”
On Thursday, Bello gave up a leadoff single to Max Clark, the Detroit Tigers’ No. 1 prospect, on the first pitch of the game. Bello then got out of the frame with a sacrifice bunt, strikeout and groundout to second base.
Bello’s only blemish of this outing came in the third when he allowed a two-out single from Toledo’s Max Anderson that scored Clark.
In three starts with Triple-A Worcester so far, Bello has a 3.95 ERA and allowed 17 hits, 6 runs and 4 walks to go along with 15 strikeouts across 13⅔ innings.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” Suarez said.
Signed by Boston as an international free agent in July 2017, the Dominican Republic native is 41-42 with a 4.32 ERA and 508 strikeouts in 112 career Major League games (105 starts), all with the Red Sox (2022-26).
It’s no secret that Bello hopes to return to Boston soon.
“He’s been super open about change,” DeLucia said. “He wants to be good, so he’s willing to listen and willing to go to work. So, we’ll see. Just going to keep his head down, keep working and hopefully it continues to grow.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Brayan Bello makes third start with Triple-A Worcester this year
Continue reading...
In his third start with the Worcester since his demotion from the Boston earlier this month, due to struggles as a starting pitcher for the Red Sox this season, Bello pitched well for the WooSox in his 2026 Polar Park debut Thursday.
After telling media inside the Worcester dugout on June 7 that “I’m ready to do what I need to do down here so I can go back to the show. And you can imagine, (I) just want to be back up there,” Bello took another positive step forward in his possible return to the Red Sox.
The 27-year-old righty finished with a stat line of: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 5 strikeouts in Worcester’s 3-2 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens.
More: Red Sox Hall of Famer Rich Gedman joins 'Cassell's Corner' podcast
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Bello threw 85 pitches for 54 strikes and, most importantly, had a clean first inning.
“When he’s at his best, and it’s kind of the case for everybody, but especially for him, even in years past, he is getting ahead frequently early,” DeLucia said. “And it feels like he’s being very aggressive in the zone, forcing hitters to swing early, resulting in favorable results. So, we’re trying to get him back there. He’s been great from a confidence standpoint, so that’s been good to see, too.”
Before being sent to Triple-A Worcester, Bello posted a 6.34 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 12 games this season with Boston. In eight starts, the right-hander allowed 41 earned runs in 35⅔ IP (10.35 ERA), but in his four bulk relief outings Bello gave up just two earned runs in 25⅓ IP (0.74 ERA).
On June 13, Bello made his first AAA appearance since April 11, 2025, when he made a rehab appearance coming off a right shoulder strain. Across four innings in a road game against Triple-A Rochester, Bello allowed five hits and two runs while striking out five and walking none.
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Perhaps the most significant number from his first WooSox outing of the year was that Bello pitched a 1-2-3 first inning against the Red Wings. His struggles in the first inning were the main reason why Bello was sent to the minors earlier this month.
Then, on June 19, the righty registered his second start for the WooSox. This time, Bello ran into those first-inning problems that plagued him with Boston earlier this year.
“It can be the hardest thing for starters at times,” DeLucia said of the first-inning issues.
Bello gave up seven hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out five hitters. Bellow surrendered two runs in the first inning before giving up one final run and leaving the fifth inning with two outs.
DeLucia said they’ve been working on getting Bello to “flood the zone” and throw strikes early in the game while using his bullpen session in between starts to simulate real-game action with dummy hitters.
“Your stuff’s really good,” DeLucia said of Bello. “Your velocity’s been in a great spot. So really just harnessing through the catcher, middle of the plate and let his pitches move to the desired location.”
“Being able to pitch aggressively,” WooSox acting manager Iggy Suarez added. “… He’s all in on the work of getting better.”
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On Thursday, Bello gave up a leadoff single to Max Clark, the Detroit Tigers’ No. 1 prospect, on the first pitch of the game. Bello then got out of the frame with a sacrifice bunt, strikeout and groundout to second base.
Bello’s only blemish of this outing came in the third when he allowed a two-out single from Toledo’s Max Anderson that scored Clark.
In three starts with Triple-A Worcester so far, Bello has a 3.95 ERA and allowed 17 hits, 6 runs and 4 walks to go along with 15 strikeouts across 13⅔ innings.
You must be registered for see images attach
“He’s trending in the right direction,” Suarez said.
Signed by Boston as an international free agent in July 2017, the Dominican Republic native is 41-42 with a 4.32 ERA and 508 strikeouts in 112 career Major League games (105 starts), all with the Red Sox (2022-26).
It’s no secret that Bello hopes to return to Boston soon.
“He’s been super open about change,” DeLucia said. “He wants to be good, so he’s willing to listen and willing to go to work. So, we’ll see. Just going to keep his head down, keep working and hopefully it continues to grow.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Brayan Bello makes third start with Triple-A Worcester this year
Continue reading...
