The Boston Red Sox know that starting Brayan Bello hasn't gone over well for them this season, but Chad Tracy decided to take the risk for their June 4 getaway game against the Baltimore Orioles. It didn't take long for the expected outcome to take hold.
Bello allowed six runs to the Orioles in a disastrous first inning. Baltimore hit two doubles, two singles, took two walks and was hit by a pitch to get those runs across. Bello's first inning, alone took 40 pitches.
Bello finished his night in the fifth inning after letting up eight runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks. His struggles — which must be purely mental because he has a 0.71 ERA when pitching after an opener — have forced the Red Sox to option him to Triple-A, first reported by Dan Roche of CBS News Boston. No corresponding move has been announced.
Before news broke that the Sox were demoting Bello, Tracy said he didn't know if a stint in Triple-A would help him set himself right. In contrast, Bello gave an emotional postgame interview — he didn't take kindly to the idea that he could be moved to the bullpen, let alone that he could be optioned.
Red Sox demote Brayan Bello to Triple-A after another atrocious start, emotional postgame interview
"First of all, just stop talking about bullpen and starting games. I've always been a starter and when I've been successful as a starter, no one has questioned whether I have to be in the bullpen or starting games. So, starting from there, just stop that talk, I'm just having a bad season," Bello said through a translator (although some fans and reporters have said Carlos Villoria-BenÃtez was kind with his translation).
On one hand, it feels harsh to option Bello when he's been so successful behind an opener. He truly looks like an entirely different pitcher with just 1.07 BB/9 and 7.88 K/9 compared to 5.37 BB/9 and 5.63 K/9 when he starts.
However, if he so passionately sees himself as a starting pitcher but can't start games, the Red Sox didn't have many other options. Bello is infamous for getting into his own head and giving himself over to his emotions in big moments, but now it happens every first inning.
Bello needs a rest and a mental reset in Worcester. In 2024-25, he showed real progress toward becoming middle-of-the-rotation starter in Boston, but he's lost all control unless a reliever gives up a few runs before he comes in. Hopefully Bello can return to his 2025 form when he comes back to the Red Sox, their stash of starting pitching depth is suddenly quite thin.
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