Red Sox Option Bello to Triple-A Amidst MLB-Worst ERA
Brayan Bello had previously insisted he remain a starting pitcher, but his performance struggles have led to a demotion to Triple-A.
Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy has optioned starting pitcher Brayan Bello to Triple-A, a decision that follows a difficult fifth major league season for the 27-year-old. The move was confirmed on Thursday evening, marking the end of Bello’s tenure in the major league rotation after 12 appearances.
The demotion comes as Bello recorded the worst earned run average (ERA) in Major League Baseball. During the season, Tracy had been forced to utilise an opener strategy to manage the pitching staff, a tactical adjustment necessitated by Bello’s ongoing struggles on the mound.
Prior to the announcement, Bello had explicitly requested that media speculation regarding a transition to the bullpen cease. Speaking through a translator, the right-hander stated he had always been a starter and attributed his current difficulties to a bad season rather than a need for a role change.
"I'm just having a bad season. That's it. It's not whether I'm a starter or a reliever; I'm just having a bad season," Bello’s translator conveyed. Bello further noted that when he has been successful as a starter, questions about his role had not arisen, and he urged reporters to stop discussing the possibility of him moving to the relief corps.
The decision to send Bello to the minors followed a recent outing in which he surrendered eight runs over five innings. Despite Bello expressing confidence that he would turn his season around, Tracy proceeded with the optioning late on Thursday night.
The report originates from NESN and was syndicated via Yahoo Sports.
