The Boston Red Sox are going through plenty of change in 2026, seeing manager Alex Cora get fired amongst a number of coaches. Boston is at least hoping their play on the field takes a step forward.
That is especially true for starting pitcher Brayan Bello, who has struggled mightily in 2026. After signing a $55 million contract extension, those struggles are getting costly for Boston, via Jeff Passan of ESPN.
“Over the past two years, Bello’s fastball velocity has dipped from 95.7 mph to 93.6 to 91.7. In today’s game, a 92-mph fastball will be obliterated, and Bello learned that the hard way, with the Yankees tagging him for five home runs among 13 hits he allowed two starts ago,” Passan wrote. “The scariest part: Bello is owed $44.5 million for the 2027-29 seasons.”
Through his first six starts in 2026, Bello holds a 9.12 ERA and a 17/15 K/BB ratio. His 43 hits allowed lead the American League while his 26 earned runs allowed are the most in all of baseball. He has allowed four or more runs in his last three starts and has just one outing with less than three earned runs overall. To put it simply, Bello is having a season to forget early on.
Still, the Red Sox are fully aware of what the right-hander is capable of, which is why they signed him to an extension. Over his 29 starts in 2025, Bello put up a 3.35 ERA and a 124/59 K/BB ratio.
Under team control through 2030, the Red Sox are planning on Bello to be a part of their rotation for the foreseeable future. But he needs to find his velocity and overall footing sooner rather than later.
The Boston Red Sox are going through plenty of change in 2026, seeing manager Alex Cora get fired amongst a number of coaches. Boston is at least hoping their play on the field takes a step forward. That is especially true for starting pitcher Brayan Bello, who has struggled mightily in 2026.