Red Sox Pitcher Bello Prioritizes MLB Spring Training Over WBC

Brayan Bello will rejoin the Boston Red Sox for a spring training game, limiting his World Baseball Classic participation.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:06pm

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Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello has decided to prioritize his MLB spring training duties over continuing to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Bello will rejoin the Red Sox and pitch against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, rather than remain with the Dominican Republic team, which has advanced to the WBC quarterfinals.

Why it matters

Bello's decision highlights the challenges some players face in balancing their MLB team's spring training needs with representing their home countries in the high-profile World Baseball Classic tournament. While Bello wants to support the Dominican Republic, he feels it's more important to get sufficient innings under his belt before the MLB season begins.

The details

Bello, a 26-year-old right-hander, had previously pitched five innings of one-hit ball for the Dominican Republic in their 10-1 win over Israel in the WBC. However, he will now link back up with the Red Sox to pitch against the Braves on Saturday, with plans to rejoin the Dominican Republic squad if they advance to the WBC semifinals. The Red Sox are accommodating Bello's request in order to ensure he gets the proper ramp-up before the start of the MLB season on March 26.

  • Bello pitched five innings for the Dominican Republic on Monday, March 13.
  • Bello will pitch for the Red Sox against the Braves on Saturday, March 18.
  • The World Baseball Classic quarterfinals are on Friday, March 17.

The players

Brayan Bello

A 26-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who is also a member of the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic team.

Boston Red Sox

The MLB team that Bello plays for, who are allowing him to prioritize their spring training over continued participation in the World Baseball Classic.

Dominican Republic

The national team that Bello was playing for in the World Baseball Classic, but will now only be able to support if they advance to the semifinals.

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What’s next

The Dominican Republic will face off against Korea in the WBC quarterfinals on Friday, March 17. If they advance, Bello may rejoin the team for the semifinals.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the delicate balance players must strike between representing their home countries in international tournaments and preparing properly for their MLB seasons. Bello's decision to prioritize his Red Sox spring training duties over continued WBC participation, despite his desire to play for the Dominican Republic, underscores the challenges faced by some players in this scenario.