The Boston Red Sox declared that right-hander Brayan Bello will start for them on Opening Day, 10 days after the
right-hander was signed to a long-term contract extension.
On Tuesday, manager Alex Cora made the declaration. Since Aaron Sele in 1995, Bello, 24, will be the youngest
starter for Boston on Opening Day.
“I do believe he’s in a stage in his career and in the organization that he is the right one for that game,” Cora said
regarding Bello. “A few weeks ago, we made a significant commitment with him. He committed himself fully to us.
And it is interdependent. He demonstrated he belonged here last year. Additionally, it appears that he has completed
all of the tasks we have given him to complete during the offseason and spring training. He Bello will be Boston’s
first native pitcher to start on Opening Day since Clay Buccholz in 2015, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston
Herald.
On March 9, Bello inked a six-year, $55 million contract with the Red Sox that keeps him with the team through the
2029 campaign. A $21 million team option is also included in the pact for 2030.
After Chris Sale was traded to the Atlanta Braves in the winter, Bello’s route to start the opening game of the season
became clearer. At least not yet, Boston’s front office refrained from adding players to the rotation via free agency.
The Red Sox are one of the clubs still interested in Jordan Montgomery, according to Jon Heyman of the New York
Post and MLB Network.
Montgomery wouldn’t have enough time to prepare for the start of the regular season even if he signed with Boston
today.
Bello, a Dominican Republic native, was first signed by the Red Sox in July 2017 as an international free agent.
About halfway through the 2022 season, he made his MLB debut.
Bello spent his first complete season in the major leagues last year. In 157 innings pitched, he had 132 strikeouts and
a 4.24 ERA. The only Red Sox pitcher to pitch at least 150 innings was the right-hander.
At T-Mobile Park on March 28, the Red Sox take on the Seattle Mariners in the opening game of the 2024 regular
season.
