The World Baseball Classic has captured the attention of baseball fans everywhere, and Boston Red Sox fans, in particular, have embraced the tournament. Over a dozen Red Sox players suited up to represent their home country or heritage and they've largely performed well in pool play.
Among some of Boston's best showings, Jarren Duran is tied for the tournament lead with three home runs, Masataka Yoshida has been a hero for team Japan for the second consecutive WBC, Roman Anthony has a .474 OPB through four games and Brayan Bello let up just one run in his five-inning start for Team Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, Bello won't make another start for his home country.
The 26-year-old unexpectedly returned to Red Sox spring training in Fort Myers on March 13, hours before Team DR is slated to take on Team Korea in the first quarterfinal of the WBC. Bello announced that he won't make another start for the Dominican Republic, saying through an interpreter that he didn't feel he was getting enough work there.
“I decided to come back because we have a starter for the Dominican Republic (Sunday), which is (Luis) Severino,” Bello said (via Sean McAdam of MassLive). “...So I decided it was going to best for us for me to come back here and throw my five and six innings or my 70 pitches that I need to do. I feel that was the right decision."
Brayan Bello returns to Red Sox spring training after saying he wasn't getting enough work with Team Dominican Republic
Bello made clear in his statement that it was his decision to return to the Red Sox — some fans might've assumed that the Red Sox pulled him back if they thought he wasn't getting the work he needed.
Bello will start the Red Sox's March 14 Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves. His return to spring training may excite some fans who were concerned about him getting injured in such a high-stakes environment before the season, but other fans are disappointed.
Team DR is easily the most electric and fun team in the WBC this year and it has a solid chance to make it to the final. Bello could return to be with his teammates for the game, but he won't pitch in it despite the possibility that the experience could help him. Bello has only pitched in one playoff game and he has a history of losing command in big moments. While the risk of injury is higher than a spring training game, the experience from a tournament game could've helped Bello in more ways than one.
Now that Bello is back in Fort Myers, he and the Red Sox will focus on the upcoming season. Bello is pushing to make his third full season as a starting pitcher and to improve on his career-best 3.35 ERA from last year.