3 Red Sox who can turn the franchise's fortunes around in 2024

Brayan Bello

The extension for Brayan Bello proves that the Red Sox youth movement is in full swing. Bello is the first of Boston's next round of homegrown players to earn a contract extension and he was a great place for the organization to start.

Boston has a highly-rated farm system but the players the organization has drafted in recent years fail to address the team's biggest need -- starting pitching. The Sox locked Bello down long-term, displaying their trust in the 24-year-old. It doesn't seem like he has any plans to waste it.

Bello is the de facto ace of Boston's rotation and was one of the best young pitchers in the league last season. He spent some time with Pedro Martínez this winter working on improving his slider which was frequently rocked in 2023, but that's set to change. 

Bello will be Boston's first Dominican Opening Day starting pitcher since Martínez. Manager Alex Cora has also praised the physical strides that Bello has made and said he's in a better position to take the mound consistently now than he was at this time last year.

Boston's young ace has put in the work and earned the contract extension he hoped for. He's well set up for a breakout season and Red Sox fans would be thrilled to see a homegrown pitcher pop off.