Brayan Bello Demoted To Minors By Red Sox After Another Poor Start

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The Brayan Bello situation has taken another turn.

The Boston Red Sox demoted Bello to Triple-A Worcester following yet another bad start by the right-hander Thursday, according to multiple reports.

The move came after Bello allowed eight runs over five innings in an 8-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Six of those runs came in the first inning. It was the second game this season in which the 27-year-old has allowed eight runs, with another start yielding seven runs and yet another six runs. That is four of his 12 appearances this year, eight of which have been starts. The Red Sox have also tried using an opener for Bello, who is in the third year of a six-year, $55 million contract.

When questioned by the media about his role on the team and whether he would be better off in the bullpen or the minors, Bello took exception.

Brayan Bello on whether the big league rotation -- as opposed to the bullpen or Triple-A -- is the right place for him to navigate his struggles:

[image or embed]

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier.bsky.social) June 4, 2026 at 2:29 PM

Bello has a 6.34 ERA and entered Thursday's game with an 8.2% walk rate and a 15.6% strikeout rate. While the walk rate is very close to the MLB average of 8.4% and just off his career mark of 8.3%, his strikeout rate is the worst of his career, below the 15.6% for his career and the MLB average of 22.4%. Opponents are also hitting .310 vs. Bello, the worst mark since his rookie season of .315.

It was already a busy day on the pitching side for the Red Sox, who promoted right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle before the game and then traded for left-handed reliever Joe La Sorsa, who was in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization and will be added to the roster prior to Friday's series opener against the New York Yankees. La Sorsa is an easy swap for Bello's spot on the 26-man roster, but a 40-man move will need to be made.

 

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[a700hitter]

 

[vegasbob]

So Bello now declares he's always starter, just having a bad season.

Wait until his attitude hits the WooSox clubhouse. This guy may be infectious, watch out.

[illinoisredsox]

44 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

So Bello now declares he's always starter, just having a bad season.

Wait until his attitude hits the WooSox clubhouse. This guy may be infectious, watch out.

Havng a bad season presumes you’ve actually had (a) good season(s).  He’s had a couple good half seasons but he’s never put together a full good season.  The best that can be said is that overall he’s been healthy and never missed much time due to physical injury.  This year not withstanding, stats wise he’s been remarkably mediocre overall

 

[mvp 78]

9 hours ago, vegasbob said:

So Bello now declares he's always starter, just having a bad season.

Wait until his attitude hits the WooSox clubhouse. This guy may be infectious, watch out.

"I'm always a starter." 

"Then go do it in WOO because it's not working here." 

[mvp 78]

8 hours ago, illinoisredsox said:

Havng a bad season presumes you’ve actually had (a) good season(s).  He’s had a couple good half seasons but he’s never put together a full good season.  The best that can be said is that overall he’s been healthy and never missed much time due to physical injury.  This year not withstanding, stats wise he’s been remarkably mediocre overall

It's always been "well if he just puts it together, he could be really good" rather than "he's really good." Overhyped. Underdelivered. 

[Sthpaw777]

He needs to be able to say I’m a good consistent starter. Overall He’s been very mediocre and an inconsistent under performer since he’s been in MLB.  

[mvp 78]

“Just stop talking about bullpen and starting games,” Bello said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. “I’ve always been a starter. And when I’ve been successful as a starter, nobody has questioned whether I have to be in the bullpen or starting games.”

“Just stop that talk because I’m just having a bad season. That’s it,” Bello said. “It’s not whether I’m a starter or I’m a reliever. I’m just having a bad season. But I know I can turn it around. I always have. And I think I will.”

“I’m thinking about making my adjustments in the big leagues,” Bello said. “I have a big league contract. That doesn’t mean the bosses ... will take that into consideration. But I’m a big leaguer. I’m a big league starting pitcher. And I’ll make my adjustments here.”

Whoops!!!

😉

[Old Red]

33 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It's always been "well if he just puts it together, he could be really good" rather than "he's really good." Overhyped. Underdelivered. 

In other words pretty SUSPECT.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

In other words pretty SUSPECT.

Not really. 

[mvp 78]

I think once you've shown yourself to be a big leaguer for a few years, you aren't a suspect. I think he just shouldn't have been given the Opening Day starter role and an extension. He's a 3-4-5 starter. It's clear the mental part of the game is getting to him this year and there isn't that support for him with this current team. We saw a little bit of his struggles in the doc. 

He'd probably thrive elsewhere. 

[Old Red]

17 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Not really. 

His pitching is what’s suspect.

[TheoBallgame9]

One guy in here (IllinoisRedSox) says he's never had a good season. Last year, I know that's hard to remember; it's such a long time ago. With a crappy team, he was 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA in 166 innings. If that's not a good season, I don't know what a good season is. You are foolish, and you should not be talking here. Here's what's important to understand: When Brayan Bello has not started, he's pitched four games, 25 innings. His ERA is 0.71, his WHIP is 0.55, he's had 27 strikeouts and 2 walks. Those are tremendous numbers, ACE numbers. Please help me understand why we just don't keep doing this. I understand this is not ideal. I understand this is not what you want, but so what? If you have a guy that's putting up ace numbers and that happens just because you put someone in as a starter for one inning, who cares? Yes, he's a head case, but if he can pitch like an ace for the season, let's get through the season with him as a non-starter. In the offseason, he can go see Dr. Bob Rotella, the sports psychologist. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. Please tell that to Chad Tracy and Craig Breslow. This is just ridiculous. 

[mvp 78]

Bello 2026

RHB: 757 OPS, 7 BB, 2 HR

LHB: 922 OPS, 17 BB, 8 HR

Lefties are killing him this year. It's more than just the first inning nonsense. 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, TheoBallgame9 said:

One guy in here (IllinoisRedSox) says he's never had a good season. Last year, I know that's hard to remember; it's such a long time ago. With a crappy team, he was 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA in 166 innings. If that's not a good season, I don't know what a good season is. You are foolish, and you should not be talking here. Here's what's important to understand: When Brayan Bello has not started, he's pitched four games, 25 innings. His ERA is 0.71, his WHIP is 0.55, he's had 27 strikeouts and 2 walks. Those are tremendous numbers, ACE numbers. Please help me understand why we just don't keep doing this. I understand this is not ideal. I understand this is not what you want, but so what? If you have a guy that's putting up ace numbers and that happens just because you put someone in as a starter for one inning, who cares? Yes, he's a head case, but if he can pitch like an ace for the season, let's get through the season with him as a non-starter. In the offseason, he can go see Dr. Bob Rotella, the sports psychologist. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. Please tell that to Chad Tracy and Craig Breslow. This is just ridiculous. 

Sports psychologists didn't work for Matt Young or Jon Lester. They won't work for Brayan Bello. 

They should have just traded for Bernardino, made him Bello's opener and moved on with 2026. I don't know why they went with another route. Maybe there is something else going one we don't know about? 

[TheoBallgame9]

I really just do not get it. I try to look at this objectively, but I just do not understand their logic. The last game, where he didn't start, he came in the second inning and pitched seven innings, I think he threw 67 pitches, zero runs. What else do you want? I mean, it'd be great if he could start, but he can't, so what? 

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, TheoBallgame9 said:

I really just do not get it. I try to look at this objectively, but I just do not understand their logic. The last game, where he didn't start, he came in the second inning and pitched seven innings, I think he threw 67 pitches, zero runs. What else do you want? I mean, it'd be great if he could start, but he can't, so what? 

I don't know if the media even asked that question last night. Very weird. 

[UtahSox]

11 minutes ago, TheoBallgame9 said:

I really just do not get it. I try to look at this objectively, but I just do not understand their logic. The last game, where he didn't start, he came in the second inning and pitched seven innings, I think he threw 67 pitches, zero runs. What else do you want? I mean, it'd be great if he could start, but he can't, so what? 

I think I agree with this assessment, bring Bennett up start him throw 3 innings and then have Bello be all the relief pitchers in that game? Sort of what we are seeing Seattle do right now. We are seeing a few teams riding 6 SP’s right now. Bello seems like a head case though right now. So maybe just moving him to low leverage relief for a couple of weeks? 
 

 I have had a couple of the random thoughts on this though.

Maybe it was time for Cora to go? I’ve never said this before, but it seems like he made a culture of Divas. First was the Devers crap from last year. Not willing to do what is necessary positionally to win. Then we had the Bello stuff waving off pitching coaches/catchers even being demonstrative when pulled from games. Then this year Trevor Story and his barely 500 OPS acting like Breslow needs to run team decisions by him. “How bout this Trev you’re part of why your coach got canned.” 

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, UtahSox said:

Maybe it was time for Cora to go? I’ve never said this before, but it seems like he made a culture of Divas. First was the Devers crap from last year. Not willing to do what is necessary positionally to win. Then we had the Bello stuff waving off pitching coaches/catchers even being demonstrative when pulled from games. Then this year Trevor Story and his barely 500 OPS acting like Breslow needs to run team decisions by him. “How bout this Trev you’re part of why your coach got canned.” 

How could you say this? He was a player's manager! He's the type of guy they needed! 😭

[notin]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Bello 2026

RHB: 757 OPS, 7 BB, 2 HR

LHB: 922 OPS, 17 BB, 8 HR

Lefties are killing him this year. It's more than just the first inning nonsense. 

The Orioles are also killing him this year.  Bello has pitched the first inning 8 times and allowed 15 runs; 10 of those runs came in two starts against the Orioles.   The Orioles team OPS vs is 1.417, highest against any team.  Theyre also the only team he has made two starts against.  

(He has faced Detroit twice, but not as a starter and their team OPS against him is much, much lower.)

[mvp 78]

 

[illinoisredsox]

7 hours ago, TheoBallgame9 said:

One guy in here (IllinoisRedSox) says he's never had a good season. Last year, I know that's hard to remember; it's such a long time ago. With a crappy team, he was 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA in 166 innings. If that's not a good season, I don't know what a good season is. You are foolish, and you should not be talking here. Here's what's important to understand: When Brayan Bello has not started, he's pitched four games, 25 innings. His ERA is 0.71, his WHIP is 0.55, he's had 27 strikeouts and 2 walks. Those are tremendous numbers, ACE numbers. Please help me understand why we just don't keep doing this. I understand this is not ideal. I understand this is not what you want, but so what? If you have a guy that's putting up ace numbers and that happens just because you put someone in as a starter for one inning, who cares? Yes, he's a head case, but if he can pitch like an ace for the season, let's get through the season with him as a non-starter. In the offseason, he can go see Dr. Bob Rotella, the sports psychologist. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. Please tell that to Chad Tracy and Craig Breslow. This is just ridiculous. 

I believe my words were he's never put together a good full season.  To me that means having some consistency.

He had half a good season last year.  He missed the first 3 1/2 weeks; I don't remember why..  He was pretty good his first 3-4 starts, though always throwing a ton of pitches.  He was very mediocre his next 5-6 starts.  Then he turned it around and was fantastic from the last half of June through the end of August, showing us all what he could be.  Once the calendar turned to September, he was terrible, culminating in a 2 inning postseason start against the Yankees in a game which could have sent the Sox onward in the playoffs.

Overall, his numbers were good last year.  But they are an average of a very high highs and a very low lows. Any pitcher will have a bad game or two here and there.  He had multiple bad months.

Yes, his relief numbers this year (3 games total) are incredible.  But being an ace is not just numbers, it's a mentality.  An ace wants the ball in the biggest moments. An ace doesn't fall apart when something bad happens behind him.  Bello has never shown that he has that mentality.

Decorum prevents me from telling you what you can do with "you are foolish and you should not be posting here".

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

After it was confirmed that Bello was being sent down, Bello was heard to say "Woo is me."

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 hour ago, illinoisredsox said:

I believe my words were he's never put together a good full season.  To me that means having some consistency.

He had half a good season last year.  He missed the first 3 1/2 weeks; I don't remember why..  He was pretty good his first 3-4 starts, though always throwing a ton of pitches.  He was very mediocre his next 5-6 starts.  Then he turned it around and was fantastic from the last half of June through the end of August, showing us all what he could be.  Once the calendar turned to September, he was terrible, culminating in a 2 inning postseason start against the Yankees in a game which could have sent the Sox onward in the playoffs.

Overall, his numbers were good last year.  But they are an average of a very high highs and a very low lows. Any pitcher will have a bad game or two here and there.  He had multiple bad months.

Yes, his relief numbers this year (3 games total) are incredible.  But being an ace is not just numbers, it's a mentality.  An ace wants the ball in the biggest moments. An ace doesn't fall apart when something bad happens behind him.  Bello has never shown that he has that mentality.

Decorum prevents me from telling you what you can do with "you are foolish and you should not be posting here".

A very well posted synopsis of Bello's 2025 season. I saw everything you saw last season. 

[vegasbob]

19 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

After it was confirmed that Bello was being sent down, Bello was heard to say "Woo is me."

Hope that being 40 miles away from his wife and kids won't affect his mentality.  Oh wait, to have a mental attitude you first need a.....

[vegasbob]

1 hour ago, illinoisredsox said:

I believe my words were he's never put together a good full season.  To me that means having some consistency.

He had half a good season last year.  He missed the first 3 1/2 weeks; I don't remember why..  He was pretty good his first 3-4 starts, though always throwing a ton of pitches.  He was very mediocre his next 5-6 starts.  Then he turned it around and was fantastic from the last half of June through the end of August, showing us all what he could be.  Once the calendar turned to September, he was terrible, culminating in a 2 inning postseason start against the Yankees in a game which could have sent the Sox onward in the playoffs.

Overall, his numbers were good last year.  But they are an average of a very high highs and a very low lows. Any pitcher will have a bad game or two here and there.  He had multiple bad months.

Yes, his relief numbers this year (3 games total) are incredible.  But being an ace is not just numbers, it's a mentality.  An ace wants the ball in the biggest moments. An ace doesn't fall apart when something bad happens behind him.  Bello has never shown that he has that mentality.

Decorum prevents me from telling you what you can do with "you are foolish and you should not be posting here".

You are kinder than i would be and was a bit taken aback at those 2 lines.   

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

4 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

Hope that being 40 miles away from his wife and kids won't affect his mentality.  Oh wait, to have a mental attitude you first need a.....

Good luck with the FO trading him. Maybe a package trade that includes KC.

 

Italics=sarcasm 

[Duran Is The Man]

10 minutes ago, vegasbob said:

You are kinder than i would be and was a bit taken aback at those 2 lines.   

same here. decorum or no, he woulda heard about it.

[Deja Doh]

Bello should have been demoted before this.  He's a 0.500 pitcher at best.  He lacks grit