Red Sox Pitcher Bello Exits World Baseball Classic to Focus on MLB Season

Brayan Bello leaves Dominican Republic team to prepare for 2026 season with Boston

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:58am

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello has decided to leave the Dominican Republic team and return to Red Sox spring training to focus on preparing for the upcoming 2026 MLB season. Bello pitched five strong innings against Israel in the World Baseball Classic, but both he and the Dominican team's staff determined his continued participation in the tournament would not be ideal for his pre-season preparations with the Red Sox.

Why it matters

Bello's decision to prioritize his Red Sox responsibilities over the World Baseball Classic highlights the challenges players face in balancing national team commitments with their MLB obligations. The Red Sox are focused on ensuring Bello is in optimal condition for the 2026 season, which is seen as crucial for his long-term development in the league.

The details

Bello pitched five innings against Israel on March 9th, allowing only one hit - a solo home run - and striking out seven batters. Despite his strong performance, both Bello and the Dominican Republic's technical staff determined his continued participation in the tournament was not ideal. Bello indicated he did not believe he could meet the necessary workload demands of both the tournament and his pre-season preparation with Boston.

  • On March 9th, Bello pitched five innings against Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
  • Bello will return to Red Sox spring training on March 14th to continue preparations for the 2026 MLB season.
  • Bello may rejoin the Dominican Republic team on March 19th, provided they are still in competition.

The players

Brayan Bello

A pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who made his MLB debut in 2022 and has quickly become a key player for the team.

Alex Cora

The manager of the Boston Red Sox, who is overseeing Bello's preparations for the 2026 season.

Cristopher Sánchez

A pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies who will start for the Dominican Republic against South Korea in the quarterfinal game.

Luis Severino

A pitcher who is slated to start for the Dominican Republic in a potential semifinal game.

Albert Pujols

The manager of the Dominican Republic team, which is aiming to improve upon their third-place finish in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

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What they’re saying

“'Brayan Bello commented through an interpreter that he didn't believe he could complete the work or the necessary innings with the Dominican team, so tomorrow he will pitch with the Red Sox against the Atlanta Braves. He will rejoin the Dominican Republic on Sunday to observe the team, provided they are still in competition.'”

— Tim Healey, Reporter, The Boston Globe (The Boston Globe)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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